The University of Cape Coast has held an orientation for three hundred and six (306) Cadet officers who will be enrolling in the Postgraduate Diploma in Security Studies at the Ghana Police Academy, Ghana Police Training School in Accra.
The cadet officers form the second cohort of the Postgraduate Diploma in Security Studies being run by the University in partnership with the Ghana Police Service.
Addressing the cadet officers, the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Sarah Darkwa, noted that postgraduate programmes at UCC demanded that students be dedicated to their academic work in order to succeed. She noted, for instance, that a student needed a minimum of 60 per cent to pass unlike 50 per cent for undergraduates.
Prof. Darkwa said the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), which was responsible for coordinating graduate programmes in the University, had put in place measures to provide support to the cadet officers once their admission process was complete. She urged the cadet officers to carefully read the Academic Policies & Regulations for Graduate Studies to guide them in their academic journey in the University. “We have distributed copies of this document so that you will read and be conversant with graduate studies at UCC even before you start your programme,” she noted.
The Dean of SGS further advised them to abide by the rules and regulations of the University and form group studies for sharing of knowledge among themselves.
The Head, Department of Forensic Sciences, Dr. Christian Adokoh, noted that the Department was proud to host the Postgraduate Diploma in Security Studies. He explained that the Department runs Bachelor of Science in Forensic Sciences in addition to the Postgraduate Diploma in Security Studies. According to Dr. Adokoh, the two programmes aimed at supporting the security services to enhance criminal investigation and also equip learners with the needed expertise.
He disclosed that the Department would soon run Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Security and Forensic Sciences to create a strong career path for the Ghana Police Service in particular and the security services in Ghana and Africa in general. “The goal of the Postgraduate Diploma in Security Studies is to provide students with knowledge in the principles and practice of leadership, management, and administration as it relates to security services” he elaborated.
The immediate past Head, Department of Forensic Sciences, Dr. Richmond Afoakwa, stated that the programme was developed by UCC in collaboration with Ghana Police Service and was opened to personnel who go through the Ghana Police Academy. “Some senior police officials were instrumental in developing the curriculum for the programme,” he noted.
Dr. Afoakwa reminded the cadet officers that UCC was known for its high academic standards and would not entertain any compromises that would jeopardise this standard.
The Head of Students’ Records Section, Mr. Abdulai Mohammed Naiimudeen, took the students through the registration of courses and processing of students' results.
The Commandant of the Police Academy, DCOP Baba Saanid Adamu advised the officers to count themselves lucky to acquire academic certificate as part of the Cadet Officers Course 51 at the Academy. “Some of us didn’t get this opportunity when we were in the Academy so do your best to grab the certificate from this prestigious university as part of your credentials. It would one day open avenues for you as you advance in your career,” he urged them.
Present at the programme were the Dean, School of Biological Sciences, Prof. Kwabena Sarfo; Senior Lecturers, Department of Forensic Sciences, Dr. Benjamin Aboagye and Dr. Mrs. Charlotte Omane Kwakye-Nuako. Others were Administrator of the Department, Mr. Samuel Cudjoe and some staff of the Department.
Background of Postgraduate Diploma in Security Studies
The University of Cape Coast and the Ghana Police Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to run a Postgraduate Diploma programme in Security Studies in February, 2021.
The programme, which is being run by the Department of Forensic Sciences and hosted at the Police Academy in Accra, aims at upgrading the knowledge of personnel of the service in security issues, enhance their performance and improve service delivery.
The pioneer students of the programme graduated at the 54th Congregation of UCC held in December, 2021.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC