A Cardiometabolic Health Epidemiologist, Health Promotion and Physical Education expert, Dr. Thomas Hormenu, has donated a photocopier machine to the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER).

The multi-functional sharp photocopier machine, which performs photocopying, scanning and printing, would enhance the operational efficiency of the department.

Making the donation, Dr. Thomas Hormenu, the newly-appointed head of the Department of HPER, noted that he had the opportunity to pursue his post-doctoral training in 2019 in the US.

“Whilst in the US, I won a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Africa Academy of Sciences to establish a Cardiometabolic Epidemiology Research Laboratory to conduct cardiometabolic research in Ghana”, he said.

Dr. Hormenu continued, “As a result, I included in the grant the purchase of a high-powered photocopier machine for the Department of HPER to improve teaching and learning.”

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Dr. Thomas Hormenu, Head of the Department of HPER presenting the photocopier machine to Dr. Kodwo Owusu and Dr. Mary Aku Ogum both lecturers at the department

Hebelieved that the equipment would be used for the purpose for which it was donated and pleaded with staff to take care of the machine to extend its lifespan.

Dr. Thomas Hormenu used the chance to praise Dr. Edward Wilson Ansah, the immediate past head of the department, for his good work.

Gratitude

For his part, a lecturer at the Department of HPER, Dr. Kodwo Owusu, who received the donation, commended the donor for the gesture and challenged other faculty members to emulate it.

He assured Dr. Hormenu that the department would take proper care of the equipment and use it for the benefit of both staff and students. 

"We want to assure you that we will maintain it. We will keep the machine properly and use it for the growth of the department", Dr. Owusu added.

Present at the short ceremony was a Senior Lecturer with the department, Dr. Mary Aku Ogum, as well as some administrative staff members.

Source: Documentation and Information Section - UCC

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has participated in the 2024 Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) to renew its commitment to fostering sustainable agricultural practices that drive socio-economic growth and development across the continent.

The second triennial conference, which was held from 12th to 16th August, 2024 in Windhoek, Namibia, was on the theme: "Operationalising Higher Agricultural Education and Research Ecosystems for Innovation, Industrialisation, and Economic Development in Africa: A Call for Action".

The five-day conference was in response to the urgent need for African governments, development partners, the private sector, and the citizenry to take action to invest in higher education that underpins the continent’s urgent development needs inclusively and sustainably.

It brought together policymakers including ministers and technical experts, higher education leaders in Africa, development partners, private sector leaders, researchers, innovators, students, and farmer organizations among others.

At the event, UCC had the opportunity to showcase its innovations, products and services through an exhibition.

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Dr. Itah Kandjii Murangi speaking at the conference

Opening Ceremony

The Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Namibia, Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi, who officially opened the conference, underscored the value of harnessing the youth demographic by educating more young Africans to contribute to the development of the continent and the world.

“Other continents are struggling with an aging population yet Africa has not fully realised the potential of its young people. To do so, we must educate and skill our young people while preparing them for the emerging world of work where they will contribute to our and the world’s economic development,” she added.

She called upon scientists to ensure that Africa was not just a consumer of scientific knowledge and products but a generator of solutions that would help humanity thrive on this planet. To do that, she advised that Science, Technology and Innovation must be at the forefront of every initiative.

Dr. Itah Kandjii Murangi further tasked scientists present at the conference to discuss and provide policy information for improving last-mile delivery of science, knowledge and products that people need to make agriculture work for them.

The RUFORUM Executive Secretary, Prof. Patrick Okori, in his welcome address, said that no young person in Africa should be academically starved when there was so much capacity from African universities to explore their full potential for the sustainable development of Africa.

He, therefore, called for the right skillsets for the youth in Africa which was a prerequisite for the attainment of the Higher Education 2024 to get gainfully employed nationals to contribute to national development.

“I therefore urge you, fellow patriots, to seize the opportunity this  RUFORUM is providing to partner for the noble cause of educating our people to also achieve the Africa we want,” he continued.

The various speakers at the conference agreed that African solutions were within Africa, and therefore, African institutions should work together to advance solutions for Africa.

In an interview with reporters after the conference, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Prof. Rosemond Boohene, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, underscored the need for African leaders to support and entice the youth to engage in agriculture through the right policies, access to skills, innovations and the right technologies.

According to her, there were huge opportunities in the sector, hence the need to modernise the sector to attract young people to tackle unemployment and food insecurity. 

The UCC delegation was led by  Prof. Rosemond Boohene, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University. Other members of the delegation included Prof. Moses Jojo Eghan, Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences; Prof. L.K. Sam Amoah, School of Agriculture and Prof. Festus Annoh Frimpong, Coordinator, TAGDve 2.0.

The rest were Mr. Gideon Abbeyquaye, Director, Directorate of Academic Affairs; Dr. Fatima Von Abubakar, Lecturer, School of Agriculture; Dr. Zikiru Shaibu, TAGDve 2.0; Mr. Kwabena Antwi-Konadu, Head, Campus Broadcasting Services (CBS), Mr. Nasir Y. Entsie, Head, Documentation and Information Section, and Mr.  Fiifi Andoh-Kumi, Head, Laison Office of the Directorate of Academic Affairs.  

Students on the delegation included Clement Okechukwu Attamah, PhD Agriculture Extension; Andrew Kibogo, PhD Wildlife Management and Noah Mweta, PhD Sociology.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

In recognition of his expertise and significant contributions, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto, the Director of the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has been appointed as Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo (UW), Canada.

This appointment  complements his current engagement as The TD Walter Bean Visiting Professorship in Environment at UW, a prestigious position awarded to Prof. Aheto, acknowledging his outstanding work and professional leadership in the field of coastal resilience globally. (https://uwaterloo.ca/environment/td-walter-bean-professorship-environment).

Professor Aheto is a highly respected expert in the field of coastal and marine ecosystem management. In his role as Director of the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, he has led groundbreaking research projects, policy development and capacity building initiatives across the African continent in support of marine ecosystem resilience and sustainable development of coastal communities in Africa.

A letter signed by the Dean, Faculty of Environment, Prof. Bruce Frayne partly read “We are very appreciative of your contributions as the TD Walter Bean Professor in Environment as well as the ongoing relationship between the University of Waterloo and the University of Cape Coast. Your role as Adjunct Professor will further enable research activities and contributions to graduate students training at the University of Waterloo”.

In his new role as Adjunct Professor, Professor Aheto will be contributing to research, teaching, and student supervision at the Faculty of Environment. His rich background in marine and coastal resources will provide students with valuable insights into global environmental issues and the necessity of sustainable practices in managing coastal and marine resources.

Commenting on his appointment, Prof. Aheto said "I am honored to join the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo as an Adjunct Professor. This opportunity will allow me to advance my research career in coastal resilience and connect with a worldwide community of practice involving scholars, policy makers and practitioners. I’ll continue to collaborate with my colleagues at the University of Waterloo to advance our understanding of coastal and marine systems and develop innovative solutions to the pressing challenges faced by coastal communities globally."

About the University of Cape Coast

The University of Cape Coast is a premier public university in Ghana, known for its excellence in research and education. The Africa Centre of Excellence on Coastal Resilience, led by Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, is a World Bank designated centre of excellence that conducts cutting-edge applied research, training and policy and coastal community initiatives to promote sustainable development of coastal communities in Africa.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC