The Sam Jonah Library (formerly called Main Library) has organised a Spelling Bee Competition for basic schools in some communities surrounding the University. The competition was aimed at encouraging school children to cultivate the habit of reading and building upon their vocabulary.The participating schools were the Imam Khomeni Basic School, Archbishop Amissah Catholic School, Towohofo Basic School, Kwaprow M.A Basic School, Amamoma Presbyterian Model School and St. Anthony Anglican School. After the final contest, Archbishop Amissah Catholic school emerged winners, whilst St. Anthony Anglican school and Imam Khomeni placed second and third respectively. Each of the participating schools was given cash prize and books. Speaking at the ceremony, the Assistant Libarian at the Sam Jonah Library, Mrs. Paulina Afful-Arthur, congratulated the participating schools and urged them to take their studies seriously.

Mrs. Afful-Arthur noted that the participants had demonstrated that they really understood what they were taught in the classroom.She encouraged parents to invest in their children's education since such children are the future leaders of the nation. For his part, Mr. Francis Filson, who represented the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mrs. Priscilla Korankye Arthin, commended the schools for their splendid performances.He noted that the dwindling reading habits amongst school children needed to be corrected by educational authorities, schools, corporate organisations, parents and guardians.

On behalf of the Assembly, Mr. Filson presented 200 cedis, a trophy and 30 dual desks to each of the participating schools. For winning the contest, Archbishop Ammisah Catholic School was presented with additional 10 dual desks.

AFB Limited, one of the sponsors of the competition, presented two tablets to the contestants from the Archbishop Amissah Catholic School. In attendance were the Librarian, Mr. Clement Entsua-Mensah; Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. J. B. A. Afful; Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Ernest Okorley and Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Koawo Edjah.  

A five-day course on Coastal Adaption to Climate Change has been opened at the Pempamsie Hotel in Cape Coast.

The course which is being held under the auspices of the Centre for Coastal Management, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of the School of Biological Sciences of the University of Cape Coast in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would draw the attention of implementing agencies to the urgency of addressing climate change issues especially pertaining to the country.

Officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Town and Country Planning and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) are participating in the workshop.

Opening the workshop, the Provost of College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. L. K. Sam-Amoah, said the emission of greenhouses gases like carbon dioxide, things that provide us electricity like oil and gas contribute heavily to climate change.

“The worry here is that, if we continue to go down the same path that we are going down today, the world as we know will change dramatically for the worse”.

The consequences of Climate Change according to Prof Sam-Amoah were evident in the intense floods, severe drought and increasing air and water temperatures that occur nowadays.

The Provost indicated that activities such as sand wining, fishery over exploitation and infrastructure development in the coastal areas have exacerbated the impacts of climate change as well as increasing the intensity of natural hazards. He said in many cases, the country has not given sufficient priority or attention to climate change issues and attributed the reasons to low human capacity to conceptualize integration of climate change issues in the work of institutions.

A Principal Programme Officer at the Environmental Protection Agency, Central Region, Mr. Peter Nana Ackon, said the development of a course of study in climate change aimed at equipping professionals, academia, civil and public servants to help mitigate effects of climate change was not only timely but an imperative for socio-economic development of a lower middle-income country like Ghana.

The country’s forest cover has been on constant decline for some time now therefore, contributing significantly to carbon emissions. Explaining the ramifications of this, Mr. Ackon indicated that climate change phenomenon is caused by increasing global temperature, which has rippling effects on the ecosystems.

“Our forest cover, which is a carbon sink, has shrank from its original 36 percent to about 10 percent by the year 2000”.

According to Mr. Ackon, a study by the EPA a few years ago revealed a critical gap in the knowledge and appreciation of the subject on climate change and its ramifications on national development. “Analysis of the respondents alone, given our level of literacy as a nation was scary, as many showed little comprehension of the issue, let alone its consequences”.

He said it was therefore a delight to have a course designed to build the capacity of men and women in critical areas of the national institutional set up. It was his hope that, this will help mainstream climate change issues into everyday discussions and planning of the country’s socio-economic development.

The Programme officer noted that the June 3, 2015 floods in Accra revealed the need for planning our towns and cities to withstand the vagaries of changing climate. He said many communities and their livelihoods were under serious threat from the rising sea levels and encroachment of the sea into lands as homes, beaches, landing cites and the socio-economic well –being of fisher folks were shattered.

“Obviously, we cannot continue as business as usual mentality. Mr. Chairman, the country needs a serious stirring to understand that our very survival is under threat and like the evolution theory, the fittest survive”.

He therefore called for the need to explore innovative ways of mitigating and adapting to the changing climate. “This is when we must start stitching in time if we have any hope of saving nine, and I dare say that the development of this course is a stitch in the right direction”.

Present at the opening ceremony were the Dean, School of Biological Sciences, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong; Head of Department Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Dr. Noble Asare and the Director Centre for Coastal Management, Dr. Denis W. Aheto.

The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Sun Bao Hong, has presented cash awards totaling $2,000 to 20 winners of the 2016 Chinese Ambassador’s Award at the University.

The winners were part of students who participated in a semester’s Chinese Language Proficiency course. Benjamin Nketiah Agyemang emerged the best student and received $200 as his prize.

In a welcome address, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, said the Ambassador’s award was instituted to recognise high performance in the learning of the Chinese language and commended the Ambassador for showing keen interest in the programme. “It is her vision to make it possible that learning of the Chinese Language was brought to the doorstep of both students and staff.  We owe her a debt of gratitude”.

Prof. Oduro said “the University operates a system of meritocracy and does not compromise on quality; therefore, it will always award excellence”. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor said Ghana-China relationship dated back to the 1960’s where the first President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah and the Chinese leaders of his days laid a solid foundation for strong bond of collaboration.  “Due to this strong foundation, since 2008, there have been a lot of students and staff exchange programmes between the University and the Hunan City University. This has eventually culminated in the commencement of this Chinese Proficiency Course”.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Sun Bao Hong said 1,200 Ghanaian students have been granted visas to study various courses in China and therefore urged the awardees and other students to take the learning of the Chinese language and education in general serious since times were changing very fast. Ambassador Sun Bao Hong reiterated that Ghana and China have enjoyed time-honoured friendship, adding, “I am committed to deepening the relationship”.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, who chaired the ceremony, commended the award winners for their efforts and advised them not to be complacent. He hoped others would take advantage of the Confucius Institute on campus to learn the Chinese Language and Culture.

The Ghana Association of University Women (GAUW), UCC branch has organised a training workshop for young girls in some basic schools in the surrounding communities of the University to equip them with leadership skills.

The workshop was on the theme, " Harnessing Girls Potential in Education". The project dubbed, " Girls' Choices Project”, was aimed at building the capacity of young girls to help them become self-confident, disciplined and courageous to take up leadership positions in all sectors of the nation. The beneficiary schools were Kwaprow M/A J.H.S, Apewosika M/A JHS and Amamoma Presbyterian JHS.

Addressing the participants, a senior lecturer at the Department of Chemistry, Dr. Geneviene Adukpo, who spoke on the topic, "Gender and Education", urged the girls to always feel confident to take up leadership positions at every sphere of their lives. She told the young girls that each of them could become a leader, regardless of their sex, race, ethnic or religious backgrounds.

To this end, Dr. Genevieve Adukpo charged the young girls to take their academic work seriously to enable them assume leadership positions in the society. She advised them to eschew negative tendencies that would jeopardize their future.

For her part, a lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ms. Nana Esi Karikari, who took the participants through "Gender and Education", underscored the importance of Female Education in the society. She said Female Education improves socio-economic growth, creates inter-generational education benefits, amongst others.

The interim National President of GAUW, Dr. Mildred Asmah, who chaired the function, urged the girls to be bold in all aspect of their life and also be studious so that they would be able to take up leadership positions in future.

GAWU is a network of women in Universities and organisations, and it aims at empowering women and girls through lifelong education.