The University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the United Kingdom Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost the interests of the two institutions.
Under the terms of the MoU, both UCC and UKCEH will collaborate on various initiatives, including biosphere-atmosphere exchange and effects, and hydrological forecasting
The agreement, which is for a period of five years, also covers areas such as heavy metal pollution in coastal ecology, and biodiversity monitoring and management in coastal ecology.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, signed on behalf of UCC, while the Chief Executive Officer of UKCEH, Dr. Stuart Wainwright, signed on behalf of the Centre, at a short ceremony held at the Council Chamber of UCC.
Exchange of MoU between CEO of UKCEH, Dr. Stuart Wainwright and Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong
During the meeting, Dr. Wainwright expressed enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead and the dedication of UKCEH to working closely together with UCC to achieve shared goals contained in the MoU. He noted that the Centre had now established its West African Office in Accra to extend its research activities to address major environmental challenges in the region.
Dr. Wainwright also indicated that UKCEH would join ties UCC’s Africa Centre on Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) to boost coastal ecology in Ghana and West Africa adding that “the achievement of this project will be replicated in other countries”.
Chief Executive Officer for UKCEH, Dr. Stuart Wainwright
Prof. Boampong, on his part, was optimistic that the collaboration, aside from the research activities would significantly influence policy to address environmental issues affecting Ghana and West Africa. He added that the collaboration would also contribute significantly towards producing world class students to fit into the global market.
“Through this collaboration we will be able to empower the next generation of scientists to contribute meaningfully to develop lasting solutions to environmental challenges we face as a people,” Prof. Boampong stressed.
Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong
He said the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) and the Department of Physics of UCC were strategically positioned in the execution of issues of coastal ecology.
Prof. Boampong thanked officials of the UKCEH for the fruitful discussions during the meeting and gave the assurance that the UCC would play its role to ensure the purpose of the MoU.
In a highlight, the Director of ACECoR, Prof. Denis Aheto, recounted the genesis of the relationship between ACECoR and the UKCEH. He noted that there were a number of areas the MoU would be covering including marine pollution, hydrological forecasting among others.
Director of ACECoR, Prof. Denis Aheto
Prof. Aheto indicated that ACECoR was well positioned to partner with UKCEH on research projects to address coastal and marine issues.
As part of activities preceding the launch of UKCEH West Africa Office in Ghana, there was a joint seminar with presentations from researchers at UKCEH and ACECoR. The seminar was to provide a platform for researchers from the two centres to share expertise in coastal ecosystem science and environmental management.
Participants in the seminar
Topics for the seminar were “Pollution research at the UKCEH for Ecology and Hydrology by Dr. Stephen Lofts; Promoting Estuarine and Mangrove Ecosystem-based Conservation and Livelihoods through Participatory Research by Dr. Isaac Okyere; Large-scale hydrological and coastal research applications by Dr. Steven Cole; Coastal Erosion/Geomorphology Project by Dr. Julia Drewer; Africa Research and Innovation Partnership by Prof. Kirk.
The UKCEH delegation with the ACECoR team
The delegation from UKCEH included, the Independent Crossbench Peer in the United Kingdom included House of Lords Select Committee for Natural Environment and Rural Communities, Lord Ewen Cameron; Associate Director of International Research and Development of UKCEH, Prof. Harry Dixon; Head of UKCEH West Africa Office, Ms. Adelaide Asantewaa Asante; International Relations Coordinator, Ms. Maria Jarquin; Group Leader, Hydrological Forecasting;Deputy Science Area Head, Hydro-climate Risks, Dr Steven Coles; Senior External Communications Manager, Gill Ormrod.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC