The University of Cape Coast (UCC) Debate Society has emerged winner of the public speaking competition category of the 2023 Pan African Universities Debate Championship held in Togo.
The competition, with 31 African universities competing, had two categories: public speaking and a debate.
The debate category contest was won by the Debate Society of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
This came to light when the representatives of the UCC Debate Society, led by Haneef Mohammed Saani, presented the trophy won at the competition to the Dean of Students, Prof. Eugene Kofour Maafo Darteh.
Briefing the Dean of students on the competition, Mr. Saani said: "The UCC Debate Society participated in the 2023 Pan African Universities Debate Championship held in Togo."
Haneef Mohammed Saani
"Following nine intense preliminary rounds of debate and four rounds of public speaking, the UCC Debate Society saw three of its four teams advanced to the pre-quarter finals and a perfect score from the judges," he indicated
Mr. Saani continued: "The UCC “C” team, made up of Jonathan Agbetsoamedo and Nana Yaw Ofosu-Ababio, and the UCC “B” team, consisting of Jackline Ballang and Godfred Nana Boakye, advanced to the debate semifinals and Christian Foli eventually won the Public Speaking contest."
Some members of the UCC Debate Society
"So since the Competition was into two categories, UCC Debate Society won the Public Speaking contest with 90.6 points, while the KNUST won the Debate competition," he pointed out.
For his part, Prof. Darteh, on behalf of the management, thanked the students for sparing time to prepare themselves adequately in order to win the Public Speaking competition.
Prof. Eugene Kofour Maafo Darteh
He stated that it was gratifying to have students bring successes to the University.
Prof. Darteh expressed the hope that the students would climb the ladder to other international competitions and bring more laurels for the University.
He, therefore, assured them that his office would continue to support the UCC Debate Society to win laurels for the University.
Photo and Story by: Enoch Acheampong (University Journalist)
A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Water and Sanitation, Dr. (Mrs) Martha Osei-Marfo, has won the University of Cape Coast (UCC) branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) Women Executive Officer Position.
Dr. Osei-Marfo, who contested unopposed, polled 169 votes representing 99.4 % in a YES and NO election, which had a turnout of 165 voters out of the registered 858, with 693 absentees.
In a brief victory speech, Dr. Osei-Marfo pledged to work tirelessly to justify the confidence and trust placed in her to continue to serve the association.
Source: Documentation and Information Section
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) is planning to establish an animal research facility to enable researchers involved in the use of animals for experimentation produce quality research data.
When completed, the facility will ensure the proper care and humane use of animals within the UCC research, testing and teaching.
It is against this backdrop that the University is picking brains of experts in animal research facility to assist the College of Health and Allied Sciences to get firsthand information on principles for biomedical research involving animals and how a future animal laboratory facility would enhance the generation of research data for animal researchers.
Dr. Samuel Adjei
At a day's training workshop on animal care use in research, testing and teaching held at the School of Medical Sciences Auditorium, the head of the Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana (UG), Dr. Samuel Adjei, said the proper housing and management of animal facility were essential to the wellbeing of animals.
Speaking on the topic: “Animal Experiments: Ethics and Welfare”. Dr. Adjei observed that "For us (animal researchers) to get the best out of the animals, we must also take care of their wellbeing and our research data will not be compromised.”
According to him, some of the criteria for assessing animal research facilities included minimal noise, hygiene, temperature, amongst others.
He, therefore, called for good management programme to be put in place by the UCC to ensure that laboratory animals were properly taking care of, fed on time and slept in a conducive environment.
Dr. Samuel Adjei expressed worry about the manner and way most Ghanaians treat animals and implored them to treat animals with care and dignity.
He added that shouting on animals was against the 1960 Ghana Criminal Code and offenders could be prosecuted or fined.
Some participants in the event
He walked the audience through the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NIACUC) which was established in 2012.
He added that the body has oversight responsibility for the proper care and humane use of animals within UG research, testing and teaching programmes.
At the workshop, a Research Assistant Fellow, Ms. Constance Agbemelo-Tsomafo, also delivered a presentation on the topic “Occupational Health and Safety in Laboratory Animal Care and Use”
An Associate Professor at the Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences at UG, Prof. George Awuku Asare, spoke on the topic “Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee: Usefulness, Requirements and Operation.”
Prof. Samuel Kyei closing the workshop
Closing the workshop, the Director for the Biomedical and Clinical Research Centre at UCC, Prof. Samuel Kyei, expressed his gratitude to all participants and commended their dedication to the advancement of knowledge through responsible animal research.
He highlighted the importance of continued learning and collaboration in ensuring the welfare of animals involved in research, testing, and training.
The workshop was chaired by Prof. Martins Ekor, the Provost of the College of Health and Allied Sciences.
An Associate Professor and Head of School of Animal and Range Sciences, College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, Ethiopia. Prof. Sintayehu Yigrem Mersha, had called on African states to substantially invest in education to create a workforce development for sustainable economic development and a better future for their populace.
At a public lecture organised by the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, UCC, governments and education stakeholders in Africa must give priority to education in order to produce new breed of African educated elites who would truly show the world that they were capable of managing their affairs.
Prof. Sintayehu Yigrem Mersha delivering a lecture at UCC
Prof. Mersha gave the advice at Research Seminar Series organized by the School of Agriculture of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on the theme "The Role of Higher Education and Agricultural Research Systems in Addressing SDGs: Lessons from SDG Graduate School in Ethiopia".
Citing an example, he noted that Ethiopians were managing the Ethiopian Airlines and the company and the country were benefiting from the aviation sector because of the training the country was giving to its citizens, adding that the nationals employed at the aviation sector maintain and repair the aircraft themselves.
He noted that a proper investment to education could reward any sector like the Ethopian airline, which is top-ranked airline in Africa.
Buttressing his point with statistics to show how economic development and education sector relates, Prof. Mersha indicated that "African countries are expected to produce at least 10,000 PhDs every year. However, currently, we are producing only about 3,000 PhDs."
He mentioned that India, Indonesia, China and USA were producing 16, 000; 22, 000 50,000, and 70,000 PhD students, respectively, every year, as a result of their investments in education.
He, therefore, implored African governments to deliberately align their educational systems to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Some participants in the Seminar
Prof. Mersha was quick to call for adequate resources geared towards educational development for the attainment of the SDGs on the continent.
"Countries that do not finance or invest in educational research will not see results ", he pointed out.
CLIFOOD SDG Graduate School
Prof. Mersha said the Climate Change Effects on Food Security (CLIFOOD), who is coordinated by him in Ethiopia, is aimed at empowering young academics of higher education institutions on the African continent focusing on SDGs 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 3 (good health and well-being), 13 (climate action), 15 (life on land) and 17 (partnerships for the goals).
He indicated that scholars should create a niche where research work from academic scholars could be centered on the SDGs.
"Create an avenue for politicians to know what scholars research about ", Prof. Mersha added.
Additionally, he noted that Graduate programs demand financial input, so there was the need for collaborations amongst various institutions for sponsorships on the continent.
Dr. Sabina Appiah-Boateng, of the School of Economics-UCC, added further that some students and staff of UCC had received funding through the DAAD-SDG Graduate School – Performing Sustainability: Cultures and Development.
“This graduate school is a research cooperation between University of Cape Coast (Ghana), University of Maiduguri (Nigeria) and University of Hildesheim (Germany),” she continued.
She stated further that the Graduate School had convened series of write workshops which had been beneficial not only to “our scholarship holders but participants from all the colleges in the university”.
The write workshop model had been adopted by the UCC School of Graduate Studies to facilitate the completion orate of graduate students.
Prof. Bert Boadi-Kusi
The Dean of the Office of International Relations, UCC, Prof. Bert Boadi-Kusi, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, announced that the Academic Board of UCC had passed the Regionalisation Policy to champion south-south collaboration with institutions on the African continent.
"There is a strategic effort to build collaborations within the African sub-region", he emphasized.
After the public lecture of Prof Mersha, discussions were held at management level on the possibilities of strengthening the south-south cooperation for future collaborations in higher education and research.
He mentioned that UCC would be glad to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hawassa University in Ethiopia to promote effective research that could benefit society at large.
On his part, the Vice-Dean of the School of Agriculture, Prof. Julius Kofi Hagan, encouraged the audience, especially Graduate students who were present to take the opportunity to learn and relearn in their academic pursuit.
Prof. Julius Kofi Hagan speaking at the lecture
Source: Documentation and Information Section
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) Printing Press has presented exercise books, pens, pencils, rulers and other educational materials worth thousands of cedis to Apewosika Basic School.
The donation, which took place on Friday 8th December, 2023, at the premises of the school, was meant to augment the effort of parents in providing the academic needs of their children.
Presenting the items, the Manager of University Printing Press, Mrs. Mary Quainoo Boadi-Kusi, expressed the dedication of the University Press to giving back to society as part of its corporate social responsibility.
She encouraged the school pupils to take their education seriously and asked them to use the books well to enhance teaching and learning.
For her part, the Director of the Directorate of Consular and General Services at UCC, Mrs. Alberta Yaa Graham said the gesture was in line with the UCC’s long held policy to reach out to communities within its catchment area.
She said the University had over the years, assisted schools in various forms and would continue to do so to improve on teaching and learning.
Some pupils with the donated educational materials
The Headmistress of the School, Mrs. Elizabeth Brew-Wartengberg, thanked the University Press for the donation.
She said the lack of basic educational materials was one of the many reasons most students failed to come to school.
Mrs. Brew-Wartengberg, therefore, expressed optimism that the books and other educational materials would improve learning in the school.
The Headmistress said the school needed a whole lot of support and that the books came at the opportune time to help the pupils.
She asked other corporate organisations to emulate the University Press by extending similar support to the School.
Source: Documentation and Information Section
A former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and renowned Professor of Educational Leadership, Prof. George K.T. Oduro, has asked the public to disregard reports by news portals, Modern Ghana and Phoenix, that he obtained his PhD through subterfuge from the University of Cape Coast.
Again, he has also strongly denied the spurious allegation of rape levelled against him by one John Boateng, who claimed Prof. Oduro raped one of his colleagues at UCC.
The malicious publication also indicated that Prof. Oduro was cited for plagiarism while reading his doctoral programme at UCC, an allegation which has been refuted by the University of Cape Coast.
The former Pro Vice-Chancellor, addressing a press conference, said he received his doctorate from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom in 2003.
He further indicated that at Cambridge University, his thesis was adjudged the best in the UK regarding educational leadership and was also adjudged the second best by the British Educational Leadership and Management Association.
“I also want to say that my thesis, the academic paper they are referring to, is the source of the Ministry of Education/Ghana Education Service’s Leadership for Learning Programme. It is being used to strongly develop and strengthen the capacity of leaders in our country. So, whoever says that my work was plagiarized is clearly not in tune with reality” he said.
Prof. Oduro, who described the publication as mischief, took serious exception to the unfounded publication saying, “The University of Cape Coast has been ranked number one and so, if you make such a publication, then you are implicating the University. You are saying that the University does not employ quality rigour screening to get its staff, but the University of Cape Coast doesn’t just appoint people”.
Prof. Oduro, therefore, entreated members of the general public to treat the publication with the contempt and disdain it deserves.
He indicated that the University of Cape Coast would not compromise on its values to recruit social misfits as its employees.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC
The Department of Education and Psychology has held a send-off party in honour of three retirees of the Department.
They are Dr. Stephen Baafi-Frimpong (Senior Lecturer), Madam Gloria Sarfo (Chief Administrative Assistant) and Mr. Palmas Anyagre (Senior Lecturer), who rendered 26 years of dedicated service to the Department.
Past and present faculty members in the department spoke highly of the retirees, indicating that their milk of human kindness, sober and affable nature would be missed.
In farewell messages, Dr. Baafi-Frimpong entreated lecturers to relate well with their students and charged them to uphold the tenets of discipline in the classroom. He called for unity among staff to take the Department to greater heights.
Mr. Palmas Anyagre, for his part, urged lecturers in the Department to help one another and sacrifice for the Department.
Dr. Stephen Baafi-Frimpong (2nd from left), Madam Gloria Sarfo (middle) and Mr. Palmas Anyagre (right) with Prof. Mark Kwaku Owusu Amponsah (2nd from left), as well as a faculty member at the Department
On her part, Madam Gloria Sarfo underscored the need for staff of the Department to love to serve one another regardless of one's status in life.
The Head of the Department, Prof. Mark Kwaku Owusu Amponsah, in a message, congratulated the retirees on their many years of meritorious service to the Department and the University of Cape Coast.
While wishing them the best in their endeavours, he expressed the hope that the retirees would bring their wealth of experiences to bear on the development of the Department.
The retirees were later presented with gifts by the Department at the event, which was held at the University Catering Services (UniCat).
Source: Documentation and Information Section
Staff of the Directorate of Finance of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have been alerted on the possible threat to the legitimacy of the finance profession if they fail to adhere to the code of conduct of the profession.
In this regard, they have been urged to uphold the principles and the code of ethics of the profession to ensure honesty, integrity, transparency, confidentiality and trustworthiness in the execution of their duties.
The Dean of the School of Business at UCC, Professor John Gatsi, who gave the advice, said respect for ethics was critical as they formed the backbone of any professional institution.
He was speaking at a seminar organised by the Directorate of Finance Welfare Association (DoFWA) as part of its 30th anniversary celebration on the topic, “Professional Work Ethics".
He told the finance officers about the boundary documents of the University such as the Procurement Act and Processes, the Public Financial Management Act, and the Financial and Stores Regulations, whilst admonishing them to follow religiously the provisions in all the documents.
A section of staff of the Directorate of Finance
Prof. Gatsi mentioned some of the professional misconducts as disclosing information acquired in the course of professional engagement to others without the consent of the client, gross negligence of professional duty, refusal to provide timely records, reports and wrong advice among others.
He said it was important for finance officers to enhance their skills in the areas of operations to help deliver quality service.
Due to the sensitive nature of the work of finance officers, Prof Gatsi urged the Directorate to come up with a gift policy to guide staff.
According to him, gifts received by finance officers had the potential to compromise their professionalism.
Speaking on the topic, "Liver-Kidney Cross Talk", the Director of University Health Services, Dr James Kojo Prah, called on Ghanaians to stop consuming too much alcohol to avoid kidney and liver problems. He bemoaned the spate at which Hepatitis B Viral and its related diseases like liver cancer, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease were ravaging families in the country.
Director of University Health Services, Dr James Kojo Prah
He advocated an increase in the consumption of fruits due to their benefits to humans whilst he encouraged the general public to report to the hospital early to reduce the extent of damage of these diseases.
“Drinking water, engaging in exercise, reducing the intake of junk and avoiding addiction to painkillers are the best ways to care for the kidneys,” he added.
The Director of Finance, Mrs. Elizabeth Obese, advised the staff of the Directorate to take their health seriously and attach a sense of professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC
The Directorate of Public Affairs (DPA) has held a day’s retreat to develop an action plan for 2024 to serve as a guiding working document.
The action plan will serve as a roadmap for undertaking key actions and setting targets to be achieved in 2024.
Opening the workshop, the Director of Public Affairs, Major Kofi Baah-Bentum (rtd), commended heads of sections and units as well as their staff for contributing towards managing the University’s corporate image positively.
“Each sectional and unit head and your staff have helped through various roles to build an enviable reputation for the University,” he said.
Major Baah-Bentum noted that the retreat was aimed at setting clear targets to be achieved in 2024 which would subsequently help to shape the Directorate’s strategic plan for the next five years.
He urged participants to think outside the box and develop bold and ambitious strategies to improve the Directorate's function at the University.
The Director of Public Affairs Major (rtd) Kofi Baah-Bentum
The Director of Public Affairs said the action plan would help to identify potential obstacles or challenges that need to be addressed in order to achieve the desired outcome, while facilitating effective communication and collaboration among the sections and units under the Directorate.
As part of the retreat, heads of the various sections presented reports of their activities for 2023.
Working in groups, participants critiqued the action plan for the previous year and developed a new one for 2024.
Heads of sections present at the retreat were the Manager, Campus Broadcasting Services (CBS), Mr. Kwabena Antwi-Konadu; Head, Documentation and Information Section (DIS), Mr. Nasir Yaqub Entsie; Head, Public Relations and Protocol Section (PR/PS), Mr. Felix Adu-Poku and Head of Accra Office, Mr. Umar Moomin Farouk.
Also present were Chief and Principal Administrative Assistants of the sections and units under the Directorate.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC