The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency, Stephanie S. Sullivan, has paid a working visit to the University to strengthen the relationship between the Embassy and UCC.
UCC-US Embassy Relationship
Receiving the Ambassador, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dora F. Edu-Buandoh, noted that the University over the years has had a cordial relationship with the Government of the US and other academic institutions through the Embassy.
She commended the Embassy for taking a keen interest in the activities of the University. “We thank the US government for supporting UCC through the USAID/UCC Fisheries and Coastal Management Capacity Building Support Project.
Commendation
On her part, Ambassador Sullivan commended UCC for making great strides in the fisheries sector of the Ghanaian economy. She assured that the US government would continue to collaborate with UCC to execute projects that would further develop the nation.
USAID/UCC Project
Speaking at the meeting, the Project Manager of the USAID/UCC Project and Director for the Centre for Coastal Management (CCM), Prof. Denis W. Aheto, explained the extent to which the Project was impacting the lives of some poor coastal communities who have now acquired relevant skills on supplementary livelihood options such as beekeeping and snail farming among others. He further mentioned that through the project scholarships were awarded to 16 students to pursue PhD and 20 students to undertake Masters’ programmes.
Professor Aheto indicated that the capacity building programmes by DFAS and CCM through the project had propelled the Centre to secure the competitive World Bank facility to implement the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) Project. He also indicated that “We have been able establish dual degree programmes with the University of Rhode Island (URI), and also held two Conferences on Fisheries and Coastal Environment”.
The Head of Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (DFAS), Dr. Noble Asare, noted that undergraduate students have enhanced their research and also benefitted from exchange programmes between DFAS and URI as a result of the project.
The USAID is currently providing financial support to UCC on a number of projects which the USAID/UCC Fisheries and Coastal Management Capacity Building Support Project at the DFAS. The support has also assisted the University to operationalise a Centre for Coastal Management.
Responding, the US Ambassador said she was happy about the outcome of the project, especially the numerous individuals who have benefited from the USAID intervention support from UCC and the fisheries sector in particular.
Present at the meeting were the Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan; Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS), Prof. Jojo Eghan; Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Jeff Onyame; Dean of the Centre for International Education, Prof. Kwaku Boakye; College Registrar of CANS, Mrs. Mildred Asmah and Ag. Director of the Public Affairs, Major Kofi Baah-Bentum (rtd).
Visit to CCM Laboratory
Ambassador Sullivan later visited the Fisheries and Coastal Research Laboratory and interacted with some lecturers, postgraduate students and laboratory technicians. In 2015, the laboratory was refurbished and equipped with ultramodern laboratory equipment and other scientific facilities through the financial support of the USAID.