A six-member National Executive of CSIR College of Science and Technology (CCST) Alumni Association has been inaugurated with a call on them to mobilise graduates of the college to serve as good ambassadors.

As the first National Executives of the Association, they were tasked to equip stakeholders in the physical and natural sciences with the appropriate skills and attitude to enhance their contribution to sustainable development in Ghana and beyond.

Prof. Moses B. Mochiah, Director for CSIR-CRI and the Representative of CSIR Director on the Board of the CCST, said the alumni represented the most valuable asset and the permanent members of the CCST family.

He said the Alumni should be role models to students and support them with scholarships to enhance the learning ability of students in the College.

"We want you to be learning judges, coaches, business partners, internship providers, and college members," he encouraged the Association.

He charged the Association to organize regular social events such as fun games and dinner dances for former students to maintain their connection with the college.

Prof. Mark Appiah, President of CCST who sworn the executive into office, said the college was committed to providing a quality learning environment and training that supports the development of appropriate skills needed for job placement.

"Unfortunately for many university graduates in Ghana, unemployment remains the biggest problem. Most graduates find it difficult to transition from university education to work mainly because of mismatch of skills required on the job market," he pointed out.

This, he said, was because many university graduates did not have the skills to meet the needs of the labour market basically because university education had not been linked to the needs of the important sectors of the economy.

He further stated that "with the shrinking public sector employment opportunities, university education must be relevant by ensuring that education systems and programmes can equip students with the relevant skills for industry and other private-sector jobs."

He said he would count on the CCST Alumni Association to support the college to train and send out graduates who would have exceptional skills needed by industry and the private sector.

Mr Charles Brefo- Nimo, the President of CCST Alumni, said the Association would spare time and a resource to raise the flag of the college to a greater height, saying it was a call to duty and service.

"I am confident that together we shall make this university proud by our exploits in the country and beyond. In the days ahead our alumni association would focus on our future together with the university administration and the governing board to lift the image and visibility of this noble university," he pledged.

The executives are Charles Yaw Brefo-Nimo, President, Louisa Abena Ebbah, Vice President, Kwaku Osei Adu Agyeman, General Secretary, Eunice Okyere Agyapong, Organizer, Alexander Owusu Ansah, Treasurer and Agnes Achiaa Aboagye, Communication and Public Relations.

The CCST was established out of the research and development experiences of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to increase the scientific capacity needed to drive Ghana's socio-economic development in line with CSIR mandate to expand the platform for science and technological application.