The Department of Sociology and Anthropology has hosted its maiden public lecture aimed at creating a platform for Sociologists and Anthropologists to address the country’s socio-economic challenges and contribute to national policy dialogue.

It also aimed to raise awareness on the importance of Sociology and Anthropology across sectors.  

The lecture, organised in partnership with the Du Bois Museum Foundation in Accra, was themed, “Reclaiming the Narrative: W.E.B. Du Bois – Race, Slavery, Pan-Africanism and Our Heritage.”

The Head of the Department of Social Sciences at Central University, Dr. Joseph Ocran, who delivered the keynote address, called on Africans to prioritise internal unity as a foundation for the success of the Pan-Africanism agenda.  

He stressed that efforts to reconnect with the African diaspora would be futile without strong internal cohesion among Africans on the continent.  

“If we cannot mend our ties within our African space, we have no business looking at connecting with those on the outside. Pan-Africanism must start from home,” he explained.  

Dr. Ocran indicated that Pan-Africanism should extend beyond the US and the Caribbean to all parts of the world where people of African descent live, including India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, where many Africans face hardship and marginalisation.

The keynote speaker also urged Africans to overcome linguistic barriers that limit unity and collaboration.

 “We must look beyond our linguistic comfort zones to reach those places we have traditionally ignored,” he said.  

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Head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Prof. Georgina Yaa Oduro with members of the newly launched W. E. Du Bois and Pan Africanism Club

Speaking at the event, Prof. De-Valera N.Y.M. Botchway of the Department of History and Diplomacy, UCC, lauded Du Bois for using intellectual activism to fight racial injustice in America, despite not having personally experienced slavery.  

According to him, Du Bois’s efforts to educate people of African descent urged the youth to follow his example. 

A Senior Lecturer at the Sociology and Anthropology at UCC, Dr. Brempong Osei-Tutu, condemned attempts to downplay the atrocities of slavery. He stressed the importance of preserving this historical memory to guide future development.  

“We live in an age where we are not dreaming. We speak of Nkrumah and other great leaders, but who are the new torchbearers?” he asked. “It is our responsibility as a department to help shape the next generation of African visionaries,” he added.

The Head of the Department of  Sociology and Anthropology , UCC, Prof. Georgina Yaa Oduro, underscored the relevance of Sociology and Anthropology to modern society.  

She noted that the disciplines were often misunderstood or underappreciated but are deeply connected to all facets of life, including agriculture, health, environment, gender, politics, education, media, culture, and even the study of witchcraft.  

Prof. Oduro said the focus on Du Bois was deliberate - to honour his enduring legacy in shaping African identity.

“Du Bois’s intellectual contributions offer a framework for current conversations on slavery, Pan-Africanism, and our collective heritage,” she stated.  

The chairperson for the occasion, the incoming Provost for the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS), Prof. Rofela Combey, emphasised the essence of preventing racial discrimination to address educational disparities and promote justice globally.

The event also saw the launch of the W. E. Du Bois and Pan Africanism Club, which focuses on empowering Africa.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has climaxed its Week Celebration with a grand durbar held on campus.

Themed “From Tradition to Transformation: The Impact of Student Leadership on National Development”, the well-attended durbar was graced by student chiefs and queen mothers, some diasporans, students and members of the general public.

Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North, Dr. Kwamena Minta Nyarku, who was the Guest Speaker, lauded the SRC for preserving the tradition of intellectual engagement while inspiring a new generation of transformational leaders.

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Dr. Kwamena Minta Nyarku

He advised students to imbibe and practice Ghanaian core values as a foundation to prepare themselves to become responsible adults and leaders of their communities and the nation. According to him, the country's core values were fading out of society, hence the need to revisit them.

The MP mentioned patriotism, justice, honesty, trustworthiness, peaceful co-existence, hard work, decorum in language, and respect for the elderly as some of the core values, which were gradually fading out of the Ghanaian society.

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Some students at the event

The Board Chairman of the National Service Authority, Mr. Emmanuel Okai Mintah, urged young people to set and show good examples to others in all circumstances.

He said that in a time where sometimes adults were the ones who encouraged wrong, young people should strive to be good examples to lead others in truth and honour.

"A good leader sets a good example; a bad leader does the opposite. Sometimes, people don't like us for not following their bad example or for calling out bad examples, but in a good society, good examples are a reward," he said.

The Dean of Students, Prof. Daniel Apaak, stressed the importance of character development among young people as a foundation for navigating the real-world of responsibilities.

He said traits such as honesty, fairness, compassion, and respect were essential for nurturing effective and ethical leadership.

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Prof. Daniel Apaak

"Don't focus on just academic growth, but on building ethical leaders. Leadership is not about the title one holds but the actions. Leadership is about service, not status,” he said.

In his address, SRC President Abraham Norman Nortey reflected on the journey of student leadership at UCC and its intersection with national development.

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Mr. Abraham Norman Nortey

“The mantle of leadership in student spaces is not merely ceremonial - it is a call to action. From tradition to transformation, we are redefining what it means to lead,” he stated.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

The Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs at IES Abroad, Prof. Michael Adewumi, in a bid to deepen academic collaboration, has paid a courtesy call to the Registrar of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Gideon Enoch Abbeyquaye (Esq.).

The visit, which forms part of the IES Abroad strategic partnership, is aimed at establishing a Centre of Excellence for the study of History and Legacies of the Transatlantic Trade at the University of Cape Coast.

Prof. Adewumi, who was a Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering at Penn State for more than three decades, observed that it was appropriate for UCC to have such a centre, given the proximity of the University to ancient sites in Cape Coast.

Consequently, he said the IES Abroad would like to partner with the Centre of African and International Studies at UCC to establish the Centre.

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Both delegations from UCC and IES Abroad during the interaction

For his part, Mr. Abbeyquaye lauded the idea and indicated the preparedness of UCC to host the Centre.

He also praised Prof. Michael Adewumi for his role in improving the study of History and Legacies of the Transatlantic Trade.

Speaking at the meeting, the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. Moses Eghan, stressed the need for UCC to have the Centre of Excellence for the study of History and Legacies of the Transatlantic and also reiterated UCC’s readiness for the establishment of the Centre.

Stephen Appiah-Padi, from Bucknell University, accompanied Prof. Michael Adewumi on the visit.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC

The Department of Environmental Science, University of Cape Coast (UCC), in collaboration with Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) Zoomlion Ghana Limited and BG Baidoo Global Ltd, has marked World Environment Day 2025 with a renewed call to reduce plastic pollution in Ghana. 

The commemoration, held under the theme: “Ending Plastic Pollution” showcased a blend of innovation, advocacy, and academic commitment to tackling Ghana’s growing plastic waste crisis.

Delivering the opening remarks, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, emphasized the University’s readiness to play a leading role in promoting sustainable environmental practices.

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The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Denis Aheto speaking at the programme.

He indicated that UCC had integrated sustainability into its academic and operational priorities and pledged the institution’s support for partnerships that promote environmental stewardship.

The Head of Department of Environmental Science, Prof. Michael Miyittah emphasized the urgency of addressing plastic pollution. He called on participants to reflect, engage, and take concrete steps from refusing single-use plastics to pioneering sustainable solutions. “This is not just a seminar,” he remarked, “but a springboard for lasting change.”

Speaking on the topic: "Championing Change: The Role of Zero Waste Cities and Campuses in Combating Plastic Pollution", the Chief of Staff at GAYO, Mr. Nana Minta Asiedu Ampadu, said his organisation was creating a ripple effect through partnerships with municipal assemblies, material recovery facilities facilities(MRFs) and grassroots stakeholders. "GAYO's work is anchored in youth leadership, equity, and justice and locally-led intiatives, while blendingeducation with evidence-based policy advocacy to drive systematic change" he highlighted.

Mr. Ampadu indicated that as a recognised knowledge partner to Ghana's national delegation and a voice for youth-led action from the Global South, GAYO continue to contribute insights from frontline communities as well as support treaty development grounded in equity, prevention, and principles of a circular economy.

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Chief of Staff at the GAYO speaking at the function

"As we strive to adapt and mitigate climate chage impactd. I know for sure there are frustrations, but so are there opportunities to create a space where we can look back and be proud as future generations see our efforts to correct the mess we created. I believe it is time we stood together to eliminate plastic pollution. We have the obligation to preserve, protect, and restore, for now and for the future," he stressed.

A Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise Development (CESED), Dr. Edward Nii Amar Amarteifio, who delivered a presentation on “Turning Environmental Science into Green Gold.”  underscored how environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss can be transformed into viable green business opportunities.

Dr. Amarteifio encouraged students and young entrepreneurs to leverage their environmental knowledge to launch ventures that not only address ecological problems but also create economic value.

In a remark, the Central Regional Manager of Zoomlion Ghana, Mr. Adams Nahim, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to combating plastic waste through education, infrastructure, and community engagement.

Mr. Nahim noted that Ghana generated over 1.1 million tons of plastic waste annually, yet the country could only recycle less than 5%.  He said the company’s Zoomkids Club Programme had educated over 50,000 students between 2022 and 2024, helping to reduce plastic waste in schools by up to 40%.

Mr. Nahim also highlighted the infrastructure investments such as the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant and the establishment of 16 Integrated Recycling and Compost Plants (IRECOPs) across all regions, including one at Mankessim in the Central Region. These facilities are creating jobs, repurposing plastic waste, and providing compost for farming communities.

As part of the commemoration, the Department of Environmental Science launched a solid waste segregation initiative in partnership with the Zoomlion Foundation. The initiative, which started at the School of Biological Sciences, categorises waste into paper, plastics, organics, and others. It will be expanded to cover the entire University and replicated in senior high and basic schools across Cape Coast and the Central Region.

A Senior Lecturer and Lead Coordinator of the Segregation Project, Dr. Isaac Mbir Bryant, urged participants to view waste as a resource rather than refuse. “This initiative will not only promote recycling but also instill in our youth a culture of sustainability,” he noted.

The celebration concluded with a live virtual exhibition from Italy by BG Baidoo Global Ltd and Eurven Srl, showcasing state-of-the-art plastic recycling technology capable of processing 2,000kg of waste daily.

The event brought together faculty, students, and industry leaders for a day of thought-provoking dialogue, sustainable innovation, and collective environmental responsibility.