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UCC Holds Matriculation for CoDE Southern Zone

03 Jan, 2018 By louis Mensah

The University has held a matriculation ceremony for  the College of Distance Education (CoDE) fresh students from the Southern Zone at the Congregation grounds.

Distance students from the Southern Zone comprising the Central and Western Regions converged at UCC campus for the ceremony.

Addressing the Matriculants, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, said a total of 17, 182 students were admitted to pursue various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through distance mode.  Out of the total figure, he explained that 15, 780 were undergraduate students whilst   1, 402 were postgraduate students. 

“The percentage for undergraduate admission is 53.2% for males and 46.8% for females. The number of undergraduate students offering Education programmes is 11, 414, and Business programmes is 4, 366. For the Postgraduate programmes, we have 518 offering Education and 884 offering Business related programmes,” the Vice-Chancellor noted.

The Vice-Chancellor said there has been a remarkable increase of 0.9 percentage points over last year’s figure indicating that “this year’s admission statistics of undergraduate students indicates that the percentage of women who have entered the University through the distance mode has gone up from 45.9% in the 2016/2017 academic year to 46.8%”. He seized the opportunity to congratulate the women for taking advantage of the distance education programmes offered by UCC to improve on their academic standing and to raise their social and financial status for the benefit of their families.

Prof. Ampiah indicated that the it had now become increasingly evident that more students were now opting for the masters’ programme in distance education because of its convenience and suitability for the working class.  “The College of Distance Education is, therefore, urged to double its efforts at making technology functional in the delivery of lecturers so that our clients could sit in the comfort of their homes and obtain their degrees. By this, we would have rendered a great service to many disadvantaged people who yearn to acquire high academic qualifications”.

He said CoDE was making efforts to bring their study centres to their doorstep.  “The College has therefore, opened five new study centres in Kasoa, Nsawam, Sefwi Juaboso, Nkawie and Ada. Fourteen (14) existing study centre that were hitherto running only diploma programmes have also been upgraded to run the post diploma programmes in addition.” The Vice-Chancellor said their admission to the UCC distance programme demanded a lot of sacrifices in terms of financial, social disengagements and realignment of their priorities to stay focused on their studies and be successful in the end. He advised them to make every effort to be regular and punctual to face-to-face sessions to complement their private studies.   Earlier, students were taken through orientation by some officials of the University, executives of Distance Education Students Association of Ghana (DESAG) and officials from the Students’ Loan Trust. Some of the issues they spoke about were Students’ support systems, presented during the orientation included rules and regulation for students, financial obligations of students, academic regulations and students loan.

Similar ceremonies would be held in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale for the other zones.

Present at the ceremony was the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro; Registrar, Mr. Kofi Nyan; Provost of CoDE, Prof. Isaac Galyuon; Provost of the College of College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. L. K. Sam-Amoah; Provost, College of Humanities & Legal Studies, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh;  Dean of Students, Prof. Koawo Edjah. Also in attendance were some Deans, Heads of Department, Central and Western Regional Resident Tutors, Centre Coordinators and Lecturers of UCC.  

Administration

VOTEC student Adjudged Winner of 2017 Maggi Star Cook Competition

22 Dec, 2017 By louis Mensah

A third-year student of the Department of  Vocational and Technical Education (VOTEC), Charity Alagelam, has been adjudged the winner of the 2017 Maggi Star Cook Competition. Students from some selected tertiary institutions took part in the competition which was sponsored by Nestle Ghana Limited. In his remarks, the production Manager of Revele Films, Mr. Redeemer Mensah, said his firm called for applications from interested students in tertiary educational institutions to compete for the Maggi Cook Star contest. Mr. Mensah said after an audition process, a panel of judges selected 20 students to compete for the event, which was held in Accra.  Based on their cooking skills, humility, neatness, amongst others, he said, three students were selected for the final competition. He said at the end of the  event, Charity emerged winner of the competition. For her prize, he said, Charity took home a table top fridge , hampers, microwave, cook aprons, amongst others. In addition, he indicated that Nestle Ghana Limited will pay her school fees for the 2017/18 academic year.   Mr. Mensah advised other students to take part in the competition next year.   For his part, the Pro- Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T. Oduro, who chaired the function, commended the winner for her cooking skills and humility. "We thank you for adding value to the University of Cape Coast through cooking. " he said.   Prof. Oduro praised the winner for choosing to cook local dishes to win the contest and called on Ghanaians to eat food made in Ghana.   He threw a challenge to the Department of VOTEC to always hone the skills of students to cook local foods.  The Pro- Vice-Chancellor advised the students to always exhibit humility, stressing, "Where money cannot send you, humility will send you there".   He encouraged the students to study hard and also used the occasion to wish the them a Merry Christmas.   Present at the programme were the Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Jeff Onyame, the Director of Public Affairs, Major (rtd) Kofi Baah- Bentum, amongst other distinguished guests.  

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GAUA-UCC Fetes Members

22 Dec, 2017 By louis Mensah
The University of Cape Coast branch of the Ghana Association of University Administrators ( GAUA) has organized an end of year get-together  for its members ahead of the Christmas festivities.
The event, held at Coconut Groove Hotel, sought to help members unwind  and encourage them to work extra harder in the coming year.  Clad  in their Sunday best, members of GAUA-UCC could not hide their joy as they danced to the seamless flow of specially arranged music provided by the Suapon Band.
Speaking at the function, the National President of the University Teachers' Association (UTAG), Dr. Eric Opoku Mensah, commended the GAUA members  for the hard work throughout the year. He said his doors were widely open to the leadership of GAUA in order to achieve a  common goal for the advancement of the University of Cape Coast.   Dr. Eric Opoku, who is also the local president of UTAG-UCC, suggested that UTAG-UCC and GAUA-UCC to jointly organise a get together next year.
 
" Everything that's considered at the top for senior members is done with our respective unions in consideration. So we should get to a level where we fraternize together. So next year, we should think about planning an annual event together and also think about creating positive platforms where we will deliberate our welfare...", he said.
He announced that  UTAG-UCC had set up a committee on health  to consider the health policy in UCC and noted that " for the first time UTAG decided that a GAUA member to be part of the committee ".
 
The Provost of the College of Education Studies, Prof . Wilmot, who graced the occasion, noted that the success of  any leader in the University depended on a GAUA member.
"If this university has not broken down , it is because we have good advisors" he said.
He , however, challenged GAUA members to be bold to tell leadership of the University the hard truth in the execution of their duties.
 
The President of GAUA- UCC, Mr. Kwabena Antwi Konadu, thanked members of the association for their good works throughout the year. He encouraged them to work relentlessly in the coming year towards the forward March of the University. Some members of GAUA-UCC , including the  Director of Finance, Mrs. Elisabeth Obese,  were given citations for their meritorious services to the Association.
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Faculty of Arts Honours Four Senior Members

22 Dec, 2017 By louis Mensah

Faculty of Arts has  honoured  four retired teaching staff members  for their meritorious service to the University. The four are Dr. (Mrs.) Cecelia Quartey, Ms. Comfort Asante, Prof.D.D. Kuupole and Prof. N.N Kuofie. They each received a citation for their immense contributions to the Faculty.  The send-off ceremony, which was held at the Amissah Arthur Language Center, was organized by the Faculty of Arts Welfare Association. In his address, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. J.B.A  Afful, commended the  retirees for their immense contributions to the faculty while in active service. "We commend you for your loyalty and commitment and dedication to duty," he noted. He added that the citations were intended to serve as reminders to their loyalty and hard work during their heyday at the Faculty. He appealed to the retirees to make themselves available to enable others to benefit from their array of experience. He urged the retirees to take good care of their health and wished them the best in their endeavours. Prof. N.N. Kwofie, who spoke on behalf of the retirees, gave the assurance that   they were prepared to share their wealth of experience with those in active service. Prof. Kwofie, who composed the University's anthem, encouraged those in active service to give off their best to uplift the image of the Faculty. Some students from the  Department of Music and Dance thrilled the gathering to good music.  

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21 Dec, 2017

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons, especially basic school teachers, clerks, secretarial and accounting personnel in the civil/public service, commerce and industry, for admission into Distance Learning Programmes of the College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast for the 2018/2019 academic year.

The application forms will be on sale from 21 stDecember, 2017 to 14th April, 2018 for Mature Applicants (MEE) and 29th June, 2018 for DIRECT Applicants.

A. EDUCATION PROGRAMMES

  1. 3-year Diploma in Early Childhood Education (DECE)
  2. 3-year Diploma in Basic Education (DBE)
  3. 3-year Diploma in Educational Psychology (DEP)
  4. 3-year Diploma in Educational Foundations (DEF)
  5. 3-year Diploma in Mathematics Education (DME)
  6. 3-year Diploma in Science Education (DSE)
  7. 2-year Bachelor Degree in Basic Education (PDE)
  8. 2-year Bachelor Degree in Educational Psychology
  9. 2-year Bachelor Degree in Educational Foundations
  10. 2-year Bachelor Degree in Mathematics Education for Diploma in Mathematics and Science Education Holders or its equivalent from recognized tertiary institutions.
21 Dec, 2017

Applications are invited from qualified persons for admission into career-oriented graduate programmes (SANDWICH) of the University of Cape Coast for the 2018 Sandwich Semester. Scratch cards/forms for online application are up for sale at the centres listed below:

1.0 SALES CENTRES

  1. Cash Office, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast (Mode of Payment – CASH )
  2. University of Cape Coast Accra Office, Tesano, Accra (Mode of Payment – Cash).
  3. Kumasi Workers College, Opposite KTI, Amakom, Kumasi (Mode of Payment – CASH)
  4. Ghana Post Offices at the Regional and District Capitals (Mode of Payment – POSTAL ORDER).
  5. Consult, Kasoa-Nyanyano Road, Near
21 Dec, 2017

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for admission into SANDWICH Bachelors, Diploma and Certificate programmes of the University of Cape Coast for the 2017/2018 academic year.

Scratch cards for online application are up for sale at the Centres listed below:

1.0 SALES CENTRES

  1. Cash Office, University of Cape Coast. (Mode of payment – CASH)
  2. Ghana Post Offices at the Regional Capitals (Mode of payment – POSTAL ORDER)
  3. University of Cape Coast Accra Office, Tesano, (Mode of Payment – CASH).
  4. Kumasi Workers’ College (Mode of Payment – CASH)
  5. I-J Consult, Kasoa-Nyanyano Road, Near Witty Kids Int. School (CASH Payment) COST OF SCRATCH CARD - GH¢250.00

UCC Researchers Extend Cowpea Project to Inmates of Ankaful Prison

17 Dec, 2017 By louis Mensah

A team of researchers from the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, has introduced inmates of the Ankaful Maximum Prison and some farmers in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly in the Central Region to 24 varieties of cowpea. The Cowpea Project which is aimed at identifying high yielding and disease resistant variety will later be released to seed production companies for onward distribution to farmers in Ghana. It is in the light of this that a “Farmers Field Day” was organised for the Prison Officers, inmates, and some farmers in the KEEA municipality to select their preferred variety of the cowpea. The team supervised the cultivation of 24 varieties of the cowpea by inmates of the Ankaful Prison on a three acre farmland behind the facility. A similar exercise was carried out in some communities in the Northern part of Ghana and at the University Research Farm in 2016. The Cowpea Project which is funded by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) is being carried out in some communities in the Northern and Southern parts of Ghana.  Collaborators for the project are the Savannah Agricultural Research (SARI) and Plant Genetic Resources Research Institutes (PGRRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the University of Virginia, USA. Briefing Journalist during the programme, the Project Manager, Dr. Aaron T. Asare, explained that the project was extended to the Ankaful Maximum Prisons, because cowpea formed a great component of their diet, hence, the need to expose the new varieties to them in order to select the most suitable crop for cultivation. He expressed gratitude to management of Ankaful Maximum Prisons for collaborating with the team to successfully carry out the Farmer Field Day on their land.  “Cowpea is the cheapest source of protein for everyone both in rural and urban communities in Ghana”, he revealed. Dr. Asare explained that in terms of climate and land, Ghana had the right climatic condition and adequate land for the cultivation of cowpea to meet the demands of the nation and also for export. “Given the needed support, the University of Cape Coast through this project can help the nation to produce enough cowpea throughout the year,” he stressed. In view of that, he appealed to government to factor cowpea as one of the crops for its flagship programme “Planting for Food and Jobs”. Some of the farmers who took part in the exercise were full of praise to the University for extending the project to them. They noted that it would help ensure food sufficiency in the nation and also improve their livelihood. Members of the Cowpea team are Dr. Aaron T. Asare (Plant Biotechnologist and Breeder) Prof. Isaac K. A. Galyuon (Plant Physiologist, Biostatistician, Molecular Biologist) Dr. Sheila Tagoe (Microbiology/ Molecular Biologist) Mr. David C. Adukpo (Microbiology/Molecular Biologist) Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako (Plant Virologist/ Agronomist) Prof. B. A. Mensah (Entomologist) Prof. Michael P. Timko (Molecular Biologist, University of Virginia, USA) Dr.  K. Adjei-Frimpong (Soil Scientist) Dr. (Mrs.) Genevive Adukpo (Organic Chemist, Natural Products) Dr. Francis Kusi (Agronomist/ Molecular Entomologist, SARI) Dr. Lawrence M. Aboagye (Plant Physiologist/Biodiversity Conservationist, PGRRI)  

Administration

UCC Researchers Extend Cowpea Project to Inmates of Ankaful Prison

17 Dec, 2017 By louis Mensah

A team of researchers from the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, has introduced inmates of the Ankaful Maximum Prison and some farmers in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly in the Central Region to 24 varieties of cowpea. The Cowpea Project which is aimed at identifying high yielding and disease resistant variety will later be released to seed production companies for onward distribution to farmers in Ghana. It is in the light of this that a “Farmers Field Day” was organised for the Prison Officers, inmates, and some farmers in the KEEA municipality to select their preferred variety of the cowpea. The team supervised the cultivation of 24 varieties of the cowpea by inmates of the Ankaful Prison on a three acre farmland behind the facility. A similar exercise was carried out in some communities in the Northern part of Ghana and at the University Research Farm in 2016. The Cowpea Project which is funded by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) is being carried out in some communities in the Northern and Southern parts of Ghana.  Collaborators for the project are the Savannah Agricultural Research (SARI) and Plant Genetic Resources Research Institutes (PGRRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the University of Virginia, USA. Briefing Journalist during the programme, the Project Manager, Dr. Aaron T. Asare, explained that the project was extended to the Ankaful Maximum Prisons, because cowpea formed a great component of their diet, hence, the need to expose the new varieties to them in order to select the most suitable crop for cultivation. He expressed gratitude to management of Ankaful Maximum Prisons for collaborating with the team to successfully carry out the Farmer Field Day on their land.  “Cowpea is the cheapest source of protein for everyone both in rural and urban communities in Ghana”, he revealed. Dr. Asare explained that in terms of climate and land, Ghana had the right climatic condition and adequate land for the cultivation of cowpea to meet the demands of the nation and also for export. “Given the needed support, the University of Cape Coast through this project can help the nation to produce enough cowpea throughout the year,” he stressed. In view of that, he appealed to government to factor cowpea as one of the crops for its flagship programme “Planting for Food and Jobs”. Some of the farmers who took part in the exercise were full of praise to the University for extending the project to them. They noted that it would help ensure food sufficiency in the nation and also improve their livelihood. Members of the Cowpea team are Dr. Aaron T. Asare (Plant Biotechnologist and Breeder) Prof. Isaac K. A. Galyuon (Plant Physiologist, Biostatistician, Molecular Biologist) Dr. Sheila Tagoe (Microbiology/ Molecular Biologist) Mr. David C. Adukpo (Microbiology/Molecular Biologist) Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako (Plant Virologist/ Agronomist) Prof. B. A. Mensah (Entomologist) Prof. Michael P. Timko (Molecular Biologist, University of Virginia, USA) Dr.  K. Adjei-Frimpong (Soil Scientist) Dr. (Mrs.) Genevive Adukpo (Organic Chemist, Natural Products) Dr. Francis Kusi (Agronomist/ Molecular Entomologist, SARI) Dr. Lawrence M. Aboagye (Plant Physiologist/Biodiversity Conservationist, PGRRI)  

Administration

The Teacher is Central to Educational Enterprise

15 Dec, 2017 By louis Mensah

The Chairman of the National Teaching Council, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson says “Central to the Educational enterprise is the teacher”.   “The role of the teacher, we are all aware, is such crucial that no nation can afford to ignore it”, he stated.   Prof. Nyarko-Sampson stated this when he delivered an address at the launch of the 70th anniversary of the Komenda College of Education (Komenco) in Accra. Komenda College of Education was established out of the barracks building left by the Fleet Air Arm of the British Navy after the Second World War. It was leased to the Methodist Church Ghana, in 1947 to be used as a training college. The first batch of of forty students who were all men was enrolled on 11th March, 1948 to start an initial 2-Year Teacher’s Cert. “B” programme. It became a co-educational institution in 1952 with the first batch of 30 women.   The speaker who tweaked the theme of the anniversary “Providing Quality Education in Ghana, The Key Contribution of Komenda College of Education and Its Key Stakeholders in 70 Years” to “Seventy Years of Providing Quality Teacher Education in Ghana; The Contribution of Komenda College of Education and Its Key Stakeholders” said the role of the teacher is so crucial that no nation can afford to ignore it. “Ghana has over the years made efforts to train and develop teachers to form the bedrock of training the manpower needs of the country”, he said.   The chairman of the National Teaching Council said since society was dynamic, so teacher education must also be dynamic to enable teachers to be trained to teach students to become useful individuals who can fit and function well in society. Touching on the importance of the teacher to development, Prof. Nyarko-Sampson indicated “Teachers are one of the most influential and powerful forces for equity, access and quality in education and key to sustainable development”. The speaker mentioned that figures from UNESCO Institute of Statistics indicate that 69 million teachers must be recruited in order to achieve universal primary and secondary education by 2030. This, he said was supported by the Sustainable Development Goal 4: which calls for Quality Education through the Education 2030 Framework for Action, which has a target calling for a substantial increase in qualified teachers through the betterment of their training, recruitment, retention, status, working conditions and motivation.   Turning to the achievements of the College, Prof. Nyarko-Sampson who is also the Dean of Faculty of Educational Foundations, UCC said Komenco over the years has been at the fore-front of initial teacher preparation for basic education level in Ghana. “The College has trained teachers who have come out resilient, and can be found in all parts of the country”.   The training offered, he noted included aspects of core skills and competences and has enhanced the life and pedagogical strategies of its products. This fact, according to him was attested to by employees and supervisors of products from the College adding “this excellence in training, is highly reflected in the output of its products”. Prof. Nyarko-Sampson intimated that at 70 and going forward, for the college to stay competitive in the changing face of initial teacher education in Ghana, “the college needs to do more has more to do”.   The changing times in the frontiers of education sector according to him, required the preparation of “an even better teacher”, a teacher who will not only impart knowledge but ensure the “production of a whole person”, who understands him/herself, his/her potentials, and has the skills to think critically and contribute to overall national development agenda by applying critical thinking skills. “Teachers trained to be critical in their thinking and practice can be competitive and promote education quality in 21st century Ghana”, he declared.   Prof. Nyarko-Sampson who is an old student of the college averred that training provided by Komenco should be one that promotes evidenced-based teaching and learning; that helps its products to evaluate needs and priorities, design and deliver quality lessons to ensure quality education in the classroom. He called for the development of 21st century skills that the school should teach to enable students to live in the world, to make them “digital natives rather than digital fugitives”. He said teachers should be trained and encouraged to be more reflective and reflexive, and to think outside the box than conventional or traditional ones we find around. “As teachers we have a stake in the curriculum which we would use in teaching our students”, he said.   The College should train teachers who will be assertive enough to incorporate experiences from their previous teaching encounters into their present teaching without sacrificing the objective(s) of the lessons”. He said government as a major stakeholder, was expected to do more in the provision of infrastructure for teaching and learning. “And this we call humbly upon the government of Ghana to assist the College, as Oliver Twist, we continue to call for more”, he appealed.   The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, the Most Rev. Titus Awotwi-Pratt, who launched the anniversary called on all old students to fully participate in the programme to make it a success.   Most Rev. Awotwi-Pratt, also an old student, unveiled the anniversary cloth and reiterated the immense contribution of the college to individuals, communities and the country as a whole.   Another old student of the College, who was the chairperson for the launch, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh, repeated the call for all old students to take part in the anniversary celebrations in April 2018.   Prof. Edu-Buandoh who is the Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, appealed to individuals and organisations to sponsor activities of the celebrations.   Present at the ceremony were the acting Executive Secretary of the National Teaching Council (NTC) Dr. (Mrs.) Evelyn Owusu Oduro, national president of the Old Students Association (KOSA) of Mr. Kish Ato Odum; and other old students.  

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