Upper West Regional Minister, Ambassador Amin Amidu Sulemani has stated education is the lifeblood of every economy and it remains the topmost priority of the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).He further stated that it is based on the same reason that issues of education have become the most topical in this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections campaign.Ambassador Amin Amidu Sulemani made the statement in a speech read on his behalf by the Chief Director of the Upper West Coordinating Council, J. B. Atuguba at the 10th matriculation of the Wa polytechnic in Wa.He said polytechnics play a major role in national development because of their method of training which emphasizes the acquisition on hands-on skills and competencies that are essential for industry, community and national development.In that regard, Ambassador Sulemani said government has taken keen interest in polytechnic education in order to enhance the capabilities of the polytechnics and to enable them train the human resource needs of the country.He stated that government has therefore increased tremendously its budgetary allocation for the polytechnics and Wa polytechnic is no exception."Government through the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and in conjunction with the polytechnic management has begun the construction of a faculty building at a total cost forty five million Ghana cedis."Presently, the RCC through the Ghana Education Trust Fund(GETFund) has provided an initial amount of one million five hundred thousand Ghana cedis to cater for site set up, clearing and earthworks," the minister revealed.Ambassador Sulemani said serious consideration has also been given to the request of the polytechnic to extend streetlights to the institute to facilitate evening studies and to ensure security for staff, students and property of the polytechnic.The Rector of the polytechnic, Prof. Godwin Sananu Kwaku Aflakpui said the polytechnic made offers to 731 fresh men and women but only 481 students made up of 346 males and 135 females accepted the offer and registered with the polytechnic.He announced that the polytechnic was given accreditation in October 2012 to mount dispensing technology programme, the second to be accredited after the Kumasi polytechnic.He said they are currently waiting on the National Board for Professional and Technician examinations (NAPTEX) to carry out the needed expert review of the curriculum and facilities before the programme is started.Prof. Aflakpui said they are also on the verge of securing accreditation to mount a programme in Industrial Art in the coming months.He advised the students to eschew all forms of negatives acts such as drug abuse, occultism, absenteeism from lectures, failure to write exams without tangible reasons and failure to obey rules and regulation of the polytechnic."To get to Wa polytechnic you must ensure that the forces that will drive you to your destination are greater than the forces that restrain you," he warned the matriculants