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Adopt Islamic banking in Ghana to promote financial inclusion- Prof. Gatsi

01 Mar, 2024 By DIS

A professor of Finance at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. John Gartchie Gatsi, has underscored the need for Ghana to adopt Islamic banking to promote financial inclusion and freedom of choice of financial products and services.

According to him, Islamic banking would considerably reduce untold poverty and burdensome project finance facing the country, whilst ensuring the promotion of social justice.

He maintained that Islamic banking had contributed to private-sector finance and governmental project finance through the public-private partnership (PPP) framework, stressing that PPP would enhance the diversification of infrastructure finance.

"It is high time, as a country, we began to explore Islamic banking options to provide some capital for infrastructure," he added.

Prof Gatsi made these submissions at his inaugural lecture which was on the topic, "Islamic Banking Options: Exploring an Inclusive Alternative or Complement."

Prof. John Gatsi being robed by members of the College of Professors at UCC. 

The event

The event was attended by some past Vice-Chancellors of the University of Cape Coast, members of academia, financial experts, politicians, civil society organisations and other distinguished personalities.

Prof. Gatsi, who is also the Dean of the School of Business, reiterated recent calls for the Banks and Specialised Deposit-taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930) to include ethical banking and achieve financial inclusion. He argued that the nation would bear the full brunt of hardship if the Bank of Ghana failed to amend the law to incorporate Islamic finance.

In the view of Prof Gatsi, the Act was enacted for conventional banks and needs to have legal flexibility for the governance structure, including Islamic banking.

"In other parts of the world, the hybrid model existing frameworks allowed conventional banks to create ethical finance widows and thus has allowed them to benefit from the best of both worlds...We need our legislation to be adjusted or we will fail to reap the overwhelming benefits that ethical finance provides," he explained.

To him, the growth of Islamic banking in non-Muslim countries proves that its benefits go beyond the issue of ethical finance. He pointed out that Islamic banking should be viewed from a financial inclusion perspective and not from a religious viewpoint.

He mentioned environmental degradation and alcoholic beverages as some of the prohibitions that make the size of Islamic banking transactions smaller than conventional banking.

Prof. Gatsi mentioned capacity building for court staff, the composition of the membership of the Shariah Supervisory Board as well as the lack of uniformity in the application of Islamic law by different Muslim faiths as some of the challenges that would face the establishment of Islamic bank in Ghana.

He, therefore, proposed that the Bank of Ghana (BOG) should create the environment for the adoption of Islamic banking, as well as contribute to meeting the SDGs.

"The Shariah Board should reflect secular democratic values. Additionally, Islamic banking will deepen entrepreneurial support," Prof. Gatsi stated.

The event was chaired by. Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, Vice-Chancellor of the UCC.

Timeline of key events in Prof. John Gatsi's life:

• Hails from Devego in the Volta Region

• 1988: Completed Ohawu R/C Primary and L/A Middle School 

• 1993: Obtained General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level Certificate (Science) at Keta Secondary Technical School

• 1995: Enrolled at Keta Secondary Technical School for sixth-form education, obtaining GCE Advanced Level.

• 1997: Gained admission at the University of Ghana (UG) to read Bachelor of Science in Administration, with Accounting option.

• 2000: Completed University of Ghana

• 2003/2004-2006: He was offered admission to read Master of Science in International Accounting at Gothenburg University, Sweden.

  • 2006: Obtained Master if Business Administration from Blekinge Institute of Technology
  • 2006: Obtained  MSc. Advanced Finance from University of Gothenburg

•2007: Employed at the University of Cape Coast as a lecturer to teach Finance and related courses.

•2011: Obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Ghana Law School.

• 2012: Promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer 

• 2014: Obtained PhD in Finance from Central University of Nicaragua

• 2016: Adjudged the Best Lecturer by the UCC-SRC 

•2016: Promoted to the rank of Associate Professor

• 2016-2019: Served as Head of the Department of Finance

• 2017: Called to the Bar after completing the professional Law Programme at the Ghana School of Law

• Since 2017 till date: He has supervised 12 M. Com students and 22 MBA students

• 2019: Appointed Dean of the School of Business and will end his term in office in July 2025

• 2020: Promoted to full Professor of Finance

• 29 February 2024: Delivered inaugural lecture on the topic: " Islamic Banking Options: Exploring an Inclusive Alternative or Complement".

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

 

School of Nursing & Midwifery inducts student nurses and midwives

01 Mar, 2024 By DIS

The School of Nursing and Midwifery has inducted levels 200, 300 and 400 students into the School. The inductees were from the Department of Adult Health and the Department of Maternal and Child Health of the University of Cape Coast.

The Heads of the aforementioned Departments presented the students for the maiden induction, who were officially inducted into the School as full-fledged student nurses and midwives by the Dean of the School, Dr. Nancy Ebu Enyan.

By their induction and swearing of declaration oath, they were required to focus on their studies to become well-grounded professionals to serve Ghana in all conditions.

As part of the event, the inductees lit candles to indicate their readiness to emulate the good example of the mother of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, affectionately called the ‘Lady with the Lamp’, by showing compassion, civility and politeness to patients who will visit their facilities for care.

A Senior Lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Dr. Christian Makafui Boso, who spoke on the theme, " The Nursing and Midwifery Profession: A Calling and the Way of Life", urged the students not to be in the profession for money but to see it as a calling to care for the sick, those who are hurt, those in mental anguish and those near death.

He said it was abundantly clear that the majority of student nurses and midwives entered into the profession as a stepping-stone to other fields and, therefore, did not have the feeling of kindness, care and love for patients.

According to him, nursing was a divine call and urged them to make sure their work always reflects their call. He said nurses and midwives should, therefore, perform their roles with dedication and explained that nursing and fidelity were not just doing the physical aspect of healing but also looking at the emotional and psychological needs of patients. He added that the work of a nurse and midwife required a caring attitude, compassion, commitment, intelligence and commitment.

He stated that nurses had contributed immensely to the development of the nation, especially the roles they played in curbing the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Christian Makafui Boso

Dr Boso said professional nurses and midwives were expected to demonstrate a certain degree of altruism and the right attitude hence the School would instill in them the true spirit of nursing and midwifery and teach them to show that spirit of care for patients.

He encouraged the student nurses and midwives to be innovative and upgrade their knowledge to remain relevant and be abreast of the latest trends in the health sector. He further advised the student nurses and midwives to take advantage of technology to provide improved health care for their patients.

The Nurse Manager at the University Health Services, Mr. Thomas Tamang, who spoke on the topic: " Maintaining Professional Standards in Healthcare Delivery," admonished the student nurses and midwives to exhibit a high level of professionalism in healthcare delivery.

He urged them to be compassionate, caring, and professional and always remember their core mandate of providing quality care for patients whose needs should be of importance to them.

Considering the concept of Universal Health Coverage by 2030, which reflected the Sustainable Development Goals, Mr Tamang urged the students to play their roles toward the achievement of the concept, wherever they found themselves.

He appealed to the students to adopt the best practices that made the nursing and midwifery profession a toast for all, while encouraging them to rise with new zest and work extra hard to improve standards and change the perception of the public about health practitioners. 

Mr. Thomas Tamang

Mr. Tamang also called on the student nurses and midwives to strictly abide by the codes and ethics of the profession.

The Provost of the College of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof Martins Ekor, expressed worry about the continuous migration of nurses and midwives into high-income countries for greener pastures. He used the opportunity to counsel the students, whom he said would be trained to be competent and fit for purpose, to help in building their own country, even as they considered lending their support to other countries.

Prof. Ekor urged the students to be poised for an exciting academic experience by delighting in the pursuit of their studies to seek knowledge and truth to become competent professional nurses and midwives.

He advised them to desist from acts that tarnish the image of the profession, indicating it was high time nurses and midwives crafted a new image for the profession.

Dean of the School of Nursing, Dr. Nancy Ebu Enyan

The Dean of the School, Dr. Nancy Enyan, in her address, congratulated the students on their induction into the School of Nursing and midwifery.

She urged the students to hone their skills to remain relevant in the profession.

The Dean asked the students to imbibe the values of integrity, compassion and excellence in the discharge of their duties.

The event was chaired by Prof (Mrs) Ivy Adwowa Efiefi Ekem, former Dean of the the School of Medical Sciences, who advised the students to abide by the rules and regulations of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, bearing in mind that they were under oath and must not misconduct themselves.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

CENTRE FOR TEACHING SUPPORT PROGRAMME - M.ED TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION

ANNOUNCEMENT
Academic Year: 
2024 to 2025

CENTRE FOR TEACHING SUPPORT (CTS)

DESCRIPTION OF CTS PROGRAMME - M.ED TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION

 

The M.Ed Teaching in Higher Education is one designed to provide opportunity for tertiary faculty who do not have professional qualification to acquire it through a year Master of Education in Teaching in Higher Education.

 

The programme seeks to:

·      Meet the needs of prospective applicants in flexible modes of delivery such as modular, sandwich and a blended approach.

·      Equip trainees with professional knowledge, skills and help them develop attitudes needed for teaching adult learners in higher education institutions.

·      Expose trainees to developmental teaching methods that will cater for the needs of the 21st century students such as critical thinking and problem solving.

Students Admission, Progression and Graduation

Applicants should posses at least a masters degree in any field of study from any recognized Higher Education Institution.

 

Target Group

·         Academic/Teaching Staff of Public/Private Universities, tutors in Colleges of Education, tutors in the Nursing and Midwifery Training Colleges, all lecturers in Technical Universities.

 

·         All Master and Doctoral holders who aspire to teach in tertiary institutions but have no teaching qualification in higher education.

Oguaa Hall Clinches Victory in Women's Category at Inter-Hall Cross Country Race

01 Mar, 2024 By DIS

Oguaa Hall has once again emerged victorious in the women's category of the 2024 Inter-Hall Cross Country competition held at Casford Field, amassing an impressive 58 points, while Valco Hall secured the top spot in the men's category with 40 points.

The 10-kilometer race, organized by the Sports Section of University of Cape Coast, aimed at selecting talented athletes to represent UCC at the upcoming annual inter-university cross-country competition in the second semester of the academic year.

The fiercely contested competition witnessed participation from athletes representing Kwame Nkrumah Hall (KNH), Atlantic Hall (ATL), Oguaa Hall, Adehye Hall, Valco Hall, and Casely Hayford (Casford) Hall.

At the end of the 10km marathon race, Oguaa Hall emerged as the winner in the women's category, accumulating 58 points. Adehye Hall secured the second position with 69 points, while Valco Hall and ATL Hall obtained 98 and 148 points, respectively, securing the third and fourth positions.

Jubilant Valco Team after receiving the trophy

In the men's category, which saw a significant turnout, Valco Hall was declared the winner with 40 points, while KNH secured the second position with 52 points. Oguaa Hall had 124 points, securing the third position, while ATL Hall and Casely Hayford Hall obtained 149 and 245 points, respectively, placing fourth and fifth.

Mariama Aidoo, representing Adehye Hall, was awarded the best female athlete, while Samuel Awini Ataylar, from Valco Hall, was crowned the best male athlete. Cash prizes and certificates were presented to the winners and halls of residence in the various categories.

Unfortunately, six female athletes from KNH Hall were unable to complete the race, resulting in a loss of marks for the Hall. According to the competition rules, halls are required to earn marks after six of their athletes complete the race.

Closing the ceremony, the chairman of the Sports and Recreation Committee-UCC, Prof. Daniel Apaak, commended the participants for their exceptional display of skills and endurance during the competition. In his closing remarks, he urged the athletes to take their training seriously and encouraged them to bring glory to UCC at the upcoming inter-university cross-country competition, as well as maintaining their titles as reigning champions.

Highlights of the Inter-Hall Cross-Country results:

 Women's Category

1st - Oguaa  -  (58 points)

2nd – Adehye - (69 points)

3rd - Valco       - (98 points)

4th - ATL            - (148 points)

Men's Category

1st - Valco   -   (40 points)

2nd - KNH   -     (52 points)

3rd - Oguaa -  (124 points)

4th - ATL    -      (149 points)

5th - Casford  - (245 points)

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

12 Doctor of Pharmacy students receive Dean's Award

01 Mar, 2024 By DIS

Twelve (12) students of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences who excelled during the 2022/23 Academic Year have been awarded academic prizes for their excellent performance.

The recipients were Gideon Nketiah Ohemeng (Best male and overall 2nd year student), Spendy-love Asantewaa Adusei (Best Female 2nd Year Student), Naa Lamiley (Best Female and overall 3rd year student), Isaac Kwabi Otchere (Best Male 3rd Year Student), Owuraku Koranteng Antwi (Most Improved Student), Felix Owusu (Overall Highest CGPA (3.9474) for 2nd Semester 2023) and Amo Bright (Overall Highest CGPA (3.9474) for 2nd Semester 2023).

The remaining awardees were Albert Dwamena Nkansah (Most Improved 4th Year Student), Victory Chinedum (Best Female 4th year Student), Prince Armah (Best Male 5th Year Student) Marian Sapara Arthur (Best Female 5th Year Student), Frederick Boateng (Most Improved), whilst Ellen Osei, Louisa Armah and Ydelina Narkotey - all in Level 500 - were also honoured for Overall Highest CGPA (3.8684) for 2nd Semester, 2023.

All the award winners received plaques.

 

The plaques awarded the deserving students on display

 

Addressing the students at the Prof. D.D. Obiri Dean’s Award Ceremony, the Dean of the School, Prof. Elvis Ofori Ameyaw congratulated all the awardees on their efforts and urged them to study hard to achieve their dreams.

He stressed that there was no easy way to success and advised the students to always strive to work hard and manage their time responsibly.

Prof Ameyaw added that there were no shortcuts to real success and that anything outside of hard work and deep and sincere commitment was merely a mirage.

He further stated that the school would ensure that students acquired the right mindset, skills and competencies to thrive in the 21st century and contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.

Present at the event were Dr. Ernest Obese (Vice-Dean of the School), Fullbright Specialist –Jon Wietholter, Mrs. Esther Bema Nimo (Faculty Officer of the School), Heads of Department and other Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff of the School.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

UCC hosts 9th AWAU Conference

28 Feb, 2024 By DIS

The Association of West Africa Universities (AWAU) has held its 9th Conference at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) with a call on stakeholders to promote quality tertiary education in the sub-region.

The three-day conference was on the theme, “Promoting quality tertiary education in West Africa through collaboration, regional integration and technology.”

The event brought together stakeholders in education including scholars, tertiary education managers and researchers from West Africa to discuss modern strategies to advance quality tertiary education.

The Registrar of the Joint Admission Board of Nigeria (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, in a keynote speech read on his behalf, noted that quality education, collaboration, regional integration and technology were prerequisite solutions to the intractable problems of poverty, under development, unemployment and misgovernance.

“This should advance, for us, mutual reinforcement of values designed to benefit from the changing trends in higher education globally” he continued.

Prof. Oloyede, therefore, called for policies aimed at providing financial assistance to tertiary institutions to enhance research and knowledge generation.

He added that the penchant for education beyond the sub-region called for strenuous efforts to resource retarded institutions into making them attractive to provide quality education for career enhancement, skills and employability among others.

Prof. Oloyede indicated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) had emerged as a game-changer for tertiary institutions across the globe.

He, however, pointed out the widespread concern about AI on ethical issues, mentioning Chat GPT, and called for effective regulations to guard its use in the education sector.

He said Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education was necessary for technological advancement and an essential tool to develop the continent.

According to him, “STEM education is a transformative force that opens doors of opportunities, offering young minds the skills needed to tackle the challenges of the 21st Century.”

He mentioned some of the remarkable achievements of the JAMB, a Nigerian entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions and added that the Board was ready to share its success story with other tertiary institutions in West Africa.  

For example, Prof. Oloyede said that JAMB had sanctioned foreign tertiary institutions awarding fake certificates to persons who did not deserve them.

He added that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education announced the suspension of evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo, as well as, banning 18 foreign universities operating in Nigeria.

The acting Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, addressing the conference, said promoting quality tertiary education in West Africa required giant steps from all major stakeholders.

"For us at GTEC, we believe that quality, as a requirement in tertiary educational delivery, is not just a need but a necessity; stressing that accreditation was a basic requirement for quality assurance, one that guaranteed adherence to the tenets, norms and standards of practice, he said.

Ag. Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai

According to him, collaboration, regional integration and technology could be enhanced through quality tertiary educational delivery, calling for minimum operational standards for delivery to guide tertiary education managers.

He urged private tertiary institutions in Ghana to adhere to the GTEC directive to charter or risk being closed down after the expiration of the application window of August 2024.

Prof. Jinapor Abdulai said GTEC was leaving no stone unturned to revamp tertiary education delivery in Ghana to attract foreign resource mobilisation to grow the Ghanaian economy.

The Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, in an address, urged the public not to throw caution to the wind and fall victim to the fake certificate syndicates in the sub-region.

He underlined the need for credible tertiary institutions to come together to wage relentless war against the increasing spate of certificate racketeering that all tertiary institutions were grappling with.

“Quite recently, … others are using Cape Coast University to produce certificates for unsuspecting persons. So, you should be careful when you see any certificate with Cape Coast University, then it is not coming from the University of Cape Coast because we give hard-earned certificates” he noted.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC 

 

 

 

University of Waterloo welcomes Prof. Denis Aheto as the TD Walter Bean Professor in Environment for 2024

28 Feb, 2024 By DIS

The Director of the Africa Centre on Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) at the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Denis Aheto, has started work as the TD Walter Bean Professor in Environment for 2024 at the University of Waterloo.

As part of his appointment, Prof Aheto is expected to deliver lectures on the topic on Africa's plastic revolution of and will explore how the global community can transform the challenges facing our oceans into opportunities for growth to bolster sustainable development and stimulate socioeconomic transformation.

The lectures are scheduled for 5 -7 March, 2024.

Importance of the TD Walter Bean Professorship

The TD Walter Bean Professorship aims to attract top international research professors on the environment to campus to build the knowledge and skills necessary for society to address complex environmental issues. Described as a "fitting testament" to the late Walter Bean’s legacy of community involvement and commitment to youth, education and community, the professorship is made possible thanks to the generosity of TD Canada Trust and their commitment to building a sustainable future together with their partners.

Source:Documentation and Information Section

UCC receives International Accreditation for Quality Management in teaching and learning

28 Feb, 2024 By DIS

The University of Cape Coast (UCC), through the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR), has received international accreditation from the Accreditation Agency for Study Programmes in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Mathematics (ASIIN) for fulfilling the institutional, procedural and cultural requirements for good teaching and successful learning.

The accreditation, according to a letter jointly signed by Prof. Dr. Kathrin Lehmann and Prof. Dr. Gert Ingold, who are Chairpersons of the Accreditation Commission, as well as Dr. Iring Wasser, the Managing Director of ASIIN, is valid from 8th December 2023 to 19th January 2025.

 

International Accreditation Certificate

"The results of the ASIIN review procedure are specified in a published report which documents the achieved maturity levels of the University of Cape Coast in the following areas:

i.        Definition of Quality

ii.      Educational Programmes / Courses / Trainings

iii.    Management of Resources

iv.    Transparency and Documentation," the one-page letter added.

 According to ASIIN, the accreditation is a fulfillment of the Disbursement Linked Results (DLR)7 on the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Impact Project of the World Bank, facilitated by the Association of African Universities (AAU).

Source: Documentation and Information Section 

 

 

Members of UCC Governing Council with the Minister of Education

Minister of Education Inaugurates UCC Governing Council

27 Feb, 2024 By DIS

 

The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has inaugurated the reconstituted members of the Governing Council of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) at a ceremony in Accra.

Reconstituted Council

The reconstituted Governing Council is chaired by Rev. Prof. Harold Amonoo- Kuofi. Members include: Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, Vice-Chancellor; Most Rev. Titus Awotwi Pratt, DCOP Patrick Adusei Sarpong (rtd), Dr. Maame Adwoa Gyekye-Jandoh- President’s Nominees).

Other members are Prof. Eric Anane- Convocation (Professorial); Dr. Justus P. Deikumah-Convocation (Non-Professorial); Dr. Jerry Opoku-Ansah- University Teachers Association of Ghana, UCC Branch; Mr. Vincent Kojo Siabi- Undergraduate Students; Mr. Kwabena Adjepong-Postgraduate Students; Mr. Mohammed A. Quantson-Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools and Samuel Danso Akoto- UCC Alumni Association.

The representatives for Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) and Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) are still pending.

Transform UCC

In his address at the ceremony, Dr. Adutwum charged the chairman and members to work towards transforming UCC to pursue its mandate of training high calibre human resource for the development of the nation. 

Dr. Adutwum noted that UCC had a special place in the heart of Ghanaians and implored on the Council to continue to improve on the University’s best practices.

He noted that even though UCC had introduced several programmes in other disciplines, the University must still lead the way in education in Ghana. " UCC must bring out great ideas that will change our space and that is expected of us as Ghanaians- you take over something and change it to the benefit of all" he added.

 

Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum

He commended UCC for its enviable status as a leading university in Africa and urged the Council to unite to support the institution to sustain that feat. 

"UCC has a unique selling advantage and if you put it to good use, you'll be the University of Competitive Choice that you trumpet about. Come together as a Council to transform UCC because Ghana can't wait," he advised.

Dr. Adutwum noted that the education sector of the nation was undergoing major transformations and therefore implored Council to ensure that UCC also worked towards that direction. He mentioned the establishment of Science, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) centres as well as state-of-the-art basic schools with advanced facilities in all the regions of Ghana as some of the manifestations of transformation.

Commitment and Integrity

In his response, the Chairman of UCC Governing Council thanked the Minister of Education for finding them worthy to serve the nation. 

 

Prof. Amonoo-Kuofi promised that they would work hard with commitment and integrity to uplift the University and address the weaknesses that come to their notice.

He indicated that UCC would be repositioned to respond to the National Education Transformation agenda of government to address stakeholders demands for quality manpower development, entrepreneurship, and value for money.

"It therefore, behoves on us as Council to steer the University to respond to the changing dynamics of educational strategy of the government so that we can contribute effectively to the wave of industrialisation in the nation" he assured.

Prof. Amonoo-Kuofi reaffirmed the commitment of the reconstituted Council to prioritise efforts to promote a congenial academic and learner friendly environment.

Present at the ceremony were the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rosemond Boohene and the Registrar, Mr. Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame who is also Secretary to Council.

 Source: Documentation and Information Section

 

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