The Department of History in conjunction with the United States Embassy has mounted a month-long photo exhibition at the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Library, near the Cape Coast Castle. The exhibition was put together through the initiative of a Fulbright Scholar from the Miami State University, Prof. Edmund Abaka has the theme: “Ties that Bind: Roots and Routes of Ghana-U.S. Relations, A 75- Year Retrospective- 1930 -2016”. Prof. Abaka who is an alumnus of the University is currently a faculty member at the Department of History. The photo exhibition is aimed at providing a retrospective look at the relationship between Ghana and the United States of America for the past 75 years. It is also looking at the period where a lot of African Americans visited Ghana at the instance of the first president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to help in nation building. The Vice-Chancellor whose speech was read on his behalf by the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. L. K. Sam- Amoah said Ghana has had a strong relationship with the US for a long time and has even hosted three presidents of America, these are Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama while they were in office. “UCC has similar connections. Both countries have a long history and the exhibition seeks to trace that,” he added. The Provost of College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh, who also spoke at the function said the College was always ready to collaborate with its external publics adding that the exhibition provided an avenue for both diplomacy and governance. Prof. Edu-Buandoh said she was happy that the first academic programme was being held at the Library since its official opening about a year ago. The Head of Department of History, Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, in a remark, commended the ingenuity of Prof. Edmund Abaka saying he has brought manifold advantages to the Department and also put the University on a high pedestal. Delivering the keynote address, a Fulbright Specialist, Prof. Emerita of Art, Assistant Provost at the Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Grace Hampton said both Africans on the continent and African Americans came from the same source but with time they got spread to other places. Using a tree as a metaphor she said, “We came from the same source but as we grow, we went to different directions”. Dr. Hampton noted that the beauty and fashion in Africa have influenced how Americans especially, their women dress. She said this was even reinforced through music as the father of soul music, James Brown depicted in his popular song “I‘m black and proud” to show the connection between Africa and America. Present at the opening ceremony were the Registrar, Mr. John K. Nyan, Dean Faculty of Arts, Prof. J. B. A Afful, Cultural Affairs Specialist, U.S. Embassy, Maya Parker and the Acting Director of Public Affairs, Maj. (retd.) Kofi Baah- Bentum and a section of the University community.  

The Department of History of the University of Cape Coast has won a five-year project from the Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation (NORPART) to facilitate faculty and graduate student exchanges. The project, which commences from 2017 to 2021,will provide support for academic partnerships and student mobility with an emphasis on Master and PhD level between higher education institutions in Norway and others selected from developing countries. With financial support from the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education, the project will also include the design of new graduate programmes and organisation of conferences and workshops. Other partner institutions for the project are Department of Historical Studies, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim, Norway; Department of Archeology and Heritage Studies, University of Ghana; Department History Education, University of Education, Winneba. Through the NORPART project, the partner institutions will work to improve the quality of programmes in their respective Universities by using innovative ways of enhancing the intercultural and digital competence of participating students to make them employable assets for both the public and private sectors of their respective countries and internationally.

The Faculty of Educational Foundations has organised a day’s seminar to build the capacities of lecturers and students on teaching philosophy and assessment. A Fulbright Specialist from the Auburn University, USA, Dr. Stacey Nickson, who spoke on “Developing a Teaching Philosophy and Assessment”, said teaching philosophy statement is a written declaration that describes and explains values, beliefs and actions surrounding the process of teaching and learning. According to her, teaching philosophy statement articulates the continuity between one’s beliefs and actions around teaching and learning. She noted that students will lose confidence and trust in their teachers, if what teachers “Say does not match what they do”. Speaking on Class Assessment Technique, she said classroom assessment provides the teacher with immediate feedback of the students’ understanding for him or her to adjust the lessons accordingly. She advised teachers to undertake both misconceptions and preconceptions checks on their students. “Your focus must be uncovering prior knowledge or beliefs that hinder or block new learning. This can be designed to uncover incorrect or incomplete knowledge, attitudes or values.” For his part, the Dean of Faculty of Educational Foundations, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Simpson, thanked the facilitator for her presentation and urged participants to adopt good teaching philosophy as professionals. He noted that the Faculty would organise frequent seminars to build the capacities of lecturers and students.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. G. K. T. Oduro, has underscored the need for both past and present students of Casely Hayford Hall (Casfordians) to let their lives reflect on the virtues of J. E. Casely Hayford, a prominent Pan- Africanist. “As we reflect on the 50 years growth of Casely Hayford Hall. It is important to reflect on the virtues of the J. E. Casely Hayford after whom this Hall derived its name”, he said. The Hall was named after Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford, an eminent Ghanaian journalist, editor, lawyer and politician, following an agreement between the then University authorities and the custodians of the Oguaa Traditional Council. Casely Hayford wrote several books primarily as commentaries and opposition to British land management Acts, such as the Crown Bill of 1897, and the forest ordinance of 1911. His view was that African identify and African social stability were inextricably linked to conservation of existing conventions concerning land rights. Prof. Oduro described J.E Casely Hayford as visionary, intelligent, decent, courageous, truthful and a no-nonsense man and challenged all Casfordians to guard against any act that would negate such virtues. “I challenged Gentlemen of Casely Hayford Hall to remember that the man J.E Casely Hayford was visionary, intelligent, decent, courageous, truthful and above all, ‘no-nonsense man’ “, Prof. Oduro made these remarks at a grand durbar to mark the 50th Casely Hayford Hall Week celebration. The hall week, which brought together alumni of the Hall, was on the theme “50 Years of Growth of The Great Casely Hayford Hall Empire:Reflections and Projections”. Prof. Oduro said: “A true Gentleman should be humble, approachable, have respect for humanity and above all disciplined”. “He should also exhibit exemplary leadership in all fields: intellectual activities, virtuous role modelling and positional leadership. Explaining the meaning of “Sharp Brain”, he said: “Sharp Brain simply provides the opportunity for Casfordians to celebrate intellectualism.” The Pro-Vice-Chancellor however deplored the culture where latter day Casfordians appear to adopt “Brawl procession and described it as misguided replacement for “Brain procession”. “This type of procession which is characterised by stupid fights, nudity, drugs etc. must be condemned by all genuine gentlemen of the Great Casford Hall because it is a disgrace to Mother Casford.” He,however, commended Casfordians for acquitting themselves honourably throughout the hall week celebration. “It is highly commendable that, on a whole, the 50th Hall Week celebration has been devoid of the uncouth and ferocious activities that characterized previous hall week celebrations such as mounting unauthorised road blocks, intimidating innocent drivers, public display of physical nudity, invasion of sister halls of residence, stone throwing and other violent acts”, he said. Prof. Oduro, who is an alumnus of the Hall, said,“the absence of these acts of indiscipline in this year’s hall week celebration, I hope, opens a new chapter in the image reclaiming strategies of the Great Casely Hayford Hall”. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor indicated that the University management was committed to ensuring that all students go about their academic duties on campus without any fear of harassment, intimidation and physical assault, adding that “Management of the University will not spare any student who breaks the rules of the University”. The Hall Master, Prof. Akwasi Kumi Kyeremeh, expressed gratitude to the University management, Hall executives, alumni, the Police and the planning committee for their support towards the hall week celebration,adding that the Hall would climax its 50 years’ anniversary activities in September 2017. He noted that the Hall, starting from this year, would institute an award scheme to reward the best graduating student from the Hall. In his remarks, Ft. Lt. Owusu Ankrah of the Takoradi Air Force Base, who reviewed the parade, commended the Cadet, drawn from Adehye and Casford Halls, for their sterling qualities and performances. He urged them not to compromise on their integrity and be disciplined and selfless in all their endeavours. The colourful event was chaired by the Vice-Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Eugene K.M. Darteh.