THE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST INVITES YOU TO THE SECOND EDITION OF OUR RESEARCH SERIES DUPPED:
UCC SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES.
DATE: THURSDAY, 12TH APRIL, 2018
TIME: 9: AM PROMPT
VENUE: CAALT 900 (AUDITORIUM 900)
The Chairman for the occasion is Prof J.P. Tetteh
PRESENTERS:
1. Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako
TOPIC: Use of Pesticides in Vegetable Production: Boon or Bane
2. Sir Kt. Prof. Anthony Annan-Prah
TOPIC: The Potential of Medicinal Plants in Treatment of Microbial Associated Diseases
3. Dr. Kwame Agyei Frimpong
TOPIC: Biochar as a climate smart soil management tool for Agricultural Intensification.
4. Dr. Moses Kwadzo
TOPIC: Major Determinants of Volunteering Behavior: Exploring Individuals NGO Volunteerism Engagement in Cape Coast Metropolis in Central Region, Ghana.
5. Mr. Ebenezer Gyamera
TOPIC: Current Trends in Feedstuff Evaluation.
6. DR MOSES TEYE
TOPIC: The Roles of Meat Processors and Consumers in Addressing Meat Quality Issues.
A team of faculty and Nursing students from Auburn University (AU) in the United States of America, has presented some health items valued at thousands of United States dollars to the Directorate of University Health Services(DUHS).
The items included drugs, bandages, gloves, sanitizers, breathing care kits, surgical scissors, first aid kits and assorted surgical instruments.
The team from AU was in Ghana for the maiden edition of Ghana Education and Health Care Programme which was jointly organised AU and UCC.
Presenting the items on behalf of the team, the Coordinator of Outreach Global, Au, Dr. Elizabeth I. Essamuah-Quansah, said the donation was to support DUHS to deliver quality healthcare to the University community and the general public. She commended the Director of DUHS, Dr. Evans Ekanem, for his generous support and helping to plan and execute 2018 Ghana Education and Health Care Programme that was jointly organised by AU and UCC. Similar items were also presented to the Nkanfoa Community Health Centre.
Receiving the items on behalf of DUHS, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, expressed gratitude to AU for the gesture and gave assurance that the items would be put to good use.
Present were the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan; Dean School of Nursing, Prof. Alexander N. M. Pappoe and Dean, Centre for International Education, Prof. Rosemond Boohene.
A team of faculty and Nursing students from Auburn University (AU) in the United States of America, has presented some health items valued at thousands of United States dollars to the Directorate of University Health Services(DUHS).
The items included drugs, bandages, gloves, sanitizers, breathing care kits, surgical scissors, first aid kits and assorted surgical instruments.
The team from AU was in Ghana for the maiden edition of Ghana Education and Health Care Programme which was jointly organised AU and UCC.
Presenting the items on behalf of the team, the Coordinator of Outreach Global, Au, Dr. Elizabeth I. Essamuah-Quansah, said the donation was to support DUHS to deliver quality healthcare to the University community and the general public. She commended the Director of DUHS, Dr. Evans Ekanem, for his generous support and helping to plan and execute 2018 Ghana Education and Health Care Programme that was jointly organised by AU and UCC. Similar items were also presented to the Nkanfoa Community Health Centre.
Receiving the items on behalf of DUHS, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, expressed gratitude to AU for the gesture and gave assurance that the items would be put to good use.
Present were the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan; Dean School of Nursing, Prof. Alexander N. M. Pappoe and Dean, Centre for International Education, Prof. Rosemond Boohene.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has launched the Industry and Innovation Unit (IIU) of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) at a ceremony on campus
The occasion was also used to inaugurate the maiden Innovation Fair and Engagement with Industry Players.
Prof. Ampiah said the establishment of IIU was very important and would contribute towards conducting research to address the needs of industry. He said several researches have been done by various departments, faculties and colleges with funding from institutions the University was dealing with.
The Vice-Chancellor however, said “The time has come to do our own research with the hope that industry would come for it and use it. We don’t want to involve industry in our research as collaborators who will just fund the research but more importantly we want them to be part of the research”. He was optimistic that the collaboration between industry and the University would lead to number of projects that would be of benefit to both parties.
Explaining the purpose of the function, the Director of DRIC, Prof. Samuel K. Annim, said technology played an important role in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals hence the need to leverage on research and innovation for economic growth. He said the establishment of Industry and Innovation Unit under DRIC as captured in the 2018-2022 strategic plan of the University emphasised the need to “strengthen research capacity and output to position UCC as the centre of academic excellence”.
He therefore, noted that the establishment of IIU has led to “organisation of the maiden interaction with industry players on pathways to strengthen their engagement to proffer solutions to local and global challenges; and institution of annual university-wide innovation fair with the intent of displaying innovations undertaken by both industry players and academics”.
Making a presentation on “Industry-Academia Linkages”, Mr. Ebenezer Abuaku, said traditionally, universities had formalized collaboration with industry in the areas of curriculum development, teaching, research and development consultancy. He said as part of a university’s core responsibility, most universities had existing collaboration with industry for students’ placement.
Mr. Abuaku was worried about the mismatch in output from and industry expectations. “The mismatch in terms of the knowledge and skills of graduates and what the employers expect are still prevalent in certain industries,” he explained. He noted that universities could achieve more if they communicate directly with industrial players to understand the type of support they need. he used the horticultural industry as a case study to buttress how academia could partner industry to bring about innovation in their business.
Delivering a speech at the function, an official of the Western branch of Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr. Albert Ababio, said there were several benefits of industry-academia linkages noting that “research and development agendas can be coordinated better to avoid duplications; stimulate additional private research and development investment and harness synergies and complementarities of scientific and technological capabilities”. He added that such collaboration could also expand the relevance of research carried out in public institutions, foster the commercialization of public research and development outcomes and increase the mobility of labour between public and private sectors
Mr. Ababio noted that the most appropriate approach to promoting university-industry collaboration depended on the country’s technological and institutional endowments and its willingness to consider the promotion of university-industry linkages as part of a broader science, technology, and innovation programme.
There were solidarity messages from the Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, Central Region and Chief Executive Officer of Ainoo Farms in Winneba.
As part of the programme, there was an engagement session for industry players and participants to share their views on how the University could improve on its linkages with industry.
Another segment of the programme was the exhibition of products and services by some organisations at the New Examinations Centre. Some of the exhibitors included GCB Bank, Prudential Bank, Ainoo-Ansah Farms, Databank, Zeal Environmental Technology Enterprise, Central Oil Mills Limited, Simply Nut Foods and Efiefi Enterprise.
Other exhibitors from UCC were; Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Centre for Coastal Management, Centre for International Education and Department of Forensic Sciences.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has launched the Industry and Innovation Unit (IIU) of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) at a ceremony on campus
The occasion was also used to inaugurate the maiden Innovation Fair and Engagement with Industry Players.
Prof. Ampiah said the establishment of IIU was very important and would contribute towards conducting research to address the needs of industry. He said several researches have been done by various departments, faculties and colleges with funding from institutions the University was dealing with.
The Vice-Chancellor however, said “The time has come to do our own research with the hope that industry would come for it and use it. We don’t want to involve industry in our research as collaborators who will just fund the research but more importantly we want them to be part of the research”. He was optimistic that the collaboration between industry and the University would lead to number of projects that would be of benefit to both parties.
Explaining the purpose of the function, the Director of DRIC, Prof. Samuel K. Annim, said technology played an important role in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals hence the need to leverage on research and innovation for economic growth. He said the establishment of Industry and Innovation Unit under DRIC as captured in the 2018-2022 strategic plan of the University emphasised the need to “strengthen research capacity and output to position UCC as the centre of academic excellence”.
He therefore, noted that the establishment of IIU has led to “organisation of the maiden interaction with industry players on pathways to strengthen their engagement to proffer solutions to local and global challenges; and institution of annual university-wide innovation fair with the intent of displaying innovations undertaken by both industry players and academics”.
Making a presentation on “Industry-Academia Linkages”, Mr. Ebenezer Abuaku, said traditionally, universities had formalized collaboration with industry in the areas of curriculum development, teaching, research and development consultancy. He said as part of a university’s core responsibility, most universities had existing collaboration with industry for students’ placement.
Mr. Abuaku was worried about the mismatch in output from and industry expectations. “The mismatch in terms of the knowledge and skills of graduates and what the employers expect are still prevalent in certain industries,” he explained. He noted that universities could achieve more if they communicate directly with industrial players to understand the type of support they need. he used the horticultural industry as a case study to buttress how academia could partner industry to bring about innovation in their business.
Delivering a speech at the function, an official of the Western branch of Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr. Albert Ababio, said there were several benefits of industry-academia linkages noting that “research and development agendas can be coordinated better to avoid duplications; stimulate additional private research and development investment and harness synergies and complementarities of scientific and technological capabilities”. He added that such collaboration could also expand the relevance of research carried out in public institutions, foster the commercialization of public research and development outcomes and increase the mobility of labour between public and private sectors
Mr. Ababio noted that the most appropriate approach to promoting university-industry collaboration depended on the country’s technological and institutional endowments and its willingness to consider the promotion of university-industry linkages as part of a broader science, technology, and innovation programme.
There were solidarity messages from the Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, Central Region and Chief Executive Officer of Ainoo Farms in Winneba.
As part of the programme, there was an engagement session for industry players and participants to share their views on how the University could improve on its linkages with industry.
Another segment of the programme was the exhibition of products and services by some organisations at the New Examinations Centre. Some of the exhibitors included GCB Bank, Prudential Bank, Ainoo-Ansah Farms, Databank, Zeal Environmental Technology Enterprise, Central Oil Mills Limited, Simply Nut Foods and Efiefi Enterprise.
Other exhibitors from UCC were; Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Centre for Coastal Management, Centre for International Education and Department of Forensic Sciences.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has launched the Industry and Innovation Unit (IIU) of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) at a ceremony on campus
The occasion was also used to inaugurate the maiden Innovation Fair and Engagement with Industry Players.
Prof. Ampiah said the establishment of IIU was very important and would contribute towards conducting research to address the needs of industry. He said several researches have been done by various departments, faculties and colleges with funding from institutions the University was dealing with.
The Vice-Chancellor however, said “The time has come to do our own research with the hope that industry would come for it and use it. We don’t want to involve industry in our research as collaborators who will just fund the research but more importantly we want them to be part of the research”. He was optimistic that the collaboration between industry and the University would lead to number of projects that would be of benefit to both parties.
Explaining the purpose of the function, the Director of DRIC, Prof. Samuel K. Annim, said technology played an important role in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals hence the need to leverage on research and innovation for economic growth. He said the establishment of Industry and Innovation Unit under DRIC as captured in the 2018-2022 strategic plan of the University emphasised the need to “strengthen research capacity and output to position UCC as the centre of academic excellence”.
He therefore, noted that the establishment of IIU has led to “organisation of the maiden interaction with industry players on pathways to strengthen their engagement to proffer solutions to local and global challenges; and institution of annual university-wide innovation fair with the intent of displaying innovations undertaken by both industry players and academics”.
Making a presentation on “Industry-Academia Linkages”, Mr. Ebenezer Abuaku, said traditionally, universities had formalized collaboration with industry in the areas of curriculum development, teaching, research and development consultancy. He said as part of a university’s core responsibility, most universities had existing collaboration with industry for students’ placement.
Mr. Abuaku was worried about the mismatch in output from and industry expectations. “The mismatch in terms of the knowledge and skills of graduates and what the employers expect are still prevalent in certain industries,” he explained. He noted that universities could achieve more if they communicate directly with industrial players to understand the type of support they need. he used the horticultural industry as a case study to buttress how academia could partner industry to bring about innovation in their business.
Delivering a speech at the function, an official of the Western branch of Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr. Albert Ababio, said there were several benefits of industry-academia linkages noting that “research and development agendas can be coordinated better to avoid duplications; stimulate additional private research and development investment and harness synergies and complementarities of scientific and technological capabilities”. He added that such collaboration could also expand the relevance of research carried out in public institutions, foster the commercialization of public research and development outcomes and increase the mobility of labour between public and private sectors
Mr. Ababio noted that the most appropriate approach to promoting university-industry collaboration depended on the country’s technological and institutional endowments and its willingness to consider the promotion of university-industry linkages as part of a broader science, technology, and innovation programme.
There were solidarity messages from the Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, Central Region and Chief Executive Officer of Ainoo Farms in Winneba.
As part of the programme, there was an engagement session for industry players and participants to share their views on how the University could improve on its linkages with industry.
Another segment of the programme was the exhibition of products and services by some organisations at the New Examinations Centre. Some of the exhibitors included GCB Bank, Prudential Bank, Ainoo-Ansah Farms, Databank, Zeal Environmental Technology Enterprise, Central Oil Mills Limited, Simply Nut Foods and Efiefi Enterprise.
Other exhibitors from UCC were; Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Centre for Coastal Management, Centre for International Education and Department of Forensic Sciences.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has launched the Industry and Innovation Unit (IIU) of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) at a ceremony on campus
The occasion was also used to inaugurate the maiden Innovation Fair and Engagement with Industry Players.
Prof. Ampiah said the establishment of IIU was very important and would contribute towards conducting research to address the needs of industry. He said several researches have been done by various departments, faculties and colleges with funding from institutions the University was dealing with.
The Vice-Chancellor however, said “The time has come to do our own research with the hope that industry would come for it and use it. We don’t want to involve industry in our research as collaborators who will just fund the research but more importantly we want them to be part of the research”. He was optimistic that the collaboration between industry and the University would lead to number of projects that would be of benefit to both parties.
Explaining the purpose of the function, the Director of DRIC, Prof. Samuel K. Annim, said technology played an important role in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals hence the need to leverage on research and innovation for economic growth. He said the establishment of Industry and Innovation Unit under DRIC as captured in the 2018-2022 strategic plan of the University emphasised the need to “strengthen research capacity and output to position UCC as the centre of academic excellence”.
He therefore, noted that the establishment of IIU has led to “organisation of the maiden interaction with industry players on pathways to strengthen their engagement to proffer solutions to local and global challenges; and institution of annual university-wide innovation fair with the intent of displaying innovations undertaken by both industry players and academics”.
Making a presentation on “Industry-Academia Linkages”, Mr. Ebenezer Abuaku, said traditionally, universities had formalized collaboration with industry in the areas of curriculum development, teaching, research and development consultancy. He said as part of a university’s core responsibility, most universities had existing collaboration with industry for students’ placement.
Mr. Abuaku was worried about the mismatch in output from and industry expectations. “The mismatch in terms of the knowledge and skills of graduates and what the employers expect are still prevalent in certain industries,” he explained. He noted that universities could achieve more if they communicate directly with industrial players to understand the type of support they need. he used the horticultural industry as a case study to buttress how academia could partner industry to bring about innovation in their business.
Delivering a speech at the function, an official of the Western branch of Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr. Albert Ababio, said there were several benefits of industry-academia linkages noting that “research and development agendas can be coordinated better to avoid duplications; stimulate additional private research and development investment and harness synergies and complementarities of scientific and technological capabilities”. He added that such collaboration could also expand the relevance of research carried out in public institutions, foster the commercialization of public research and development outcomes and increase the mobility of labour between public and private sectors
Mr. Ababio noted that the most appropriate approach to promoting university-industry collaboration depended on the country’s technological and institutional endowments and its willingness to consider the promotion of university-industry linkages as part of a broader science, technology, and innovation programme.
There were solidarity messages from the Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, Central Region and Chief Executive Officer of Ainoo Farms in Winneba.
As part of the programme, there was an engagement session for industry players and participants to share their views on how the University could improve on its linkages with industry.
Another segment of the programme was the exhibition of products and services by some organisations at the New Examinations Centre. Some of the exhibitors included GCB Bank, Prudential Bank, Ainoo-Ansah Farms, Databank, Zeal Environmental Technology Enterprise, Central Oil Mills Limited, Simply Nut Foods and Efiefi Enterprise.
Other exhibitors from UCC were; Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Centre for Coastal Management, Centre for International Education and Department of Forensic Sciences.
The Graduate Students Association (GRASAG-UCC) has climaxed its 25th anniversary celebrations with a call on postgraduate students to acquire transferrable skills to enable them to get immediate employment after school.
“Every postgraduate student acquires global skills( transferrable skills). These skills of creativity, communication, innovation, risk taking, etc. are critical. They cross boundaries. They are not restricted to a particular subject area. It cuts across. You can use them in other areas. That is what employers are looking for”, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Prof. Josphus Anamuah-Mensah, has stated.
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah was speaking at a durbar to climax the 25th anniversary celebration of GRASAG on the theme: “ Curbing the menace of Graduate Unemployment: The Role of Stakeholders”. He said postgraduate students should not be only allowed to collect data from industries, but they should also engage with industry players on the ground to acquire practical skills.That, according to him, would enable them to secure jobs easily. “ …You don’t engage with industry. How can industry support you? To engage with them and then to solve their problems. They may even employ you after school”.
Furthermore, he called on universities in the country to collaborate to undertake joint researches in the country. “It is interesting that there is no collaborative research among tertiary institutions in the country. Everybody is doing his own thing. But this is a country for us and we should all make sure the country progresses. There should be collaborative research among the universities because we are all paid by the government.” he stressed.
Prof. Anamuah-Mensah appealed to government to set up of a national research foundation for post graduate students to apply for funds to carry out their research work. He bemoaned the rising reduction in the enrolment number of post graduate students in the country. “At the moment, if you take all the universities in the country. We have less than 10 % of the total number of students in universities engage in post graduate studies.” he said. “Any viable institution that runs postgraduate studies and research should at least have 25% of enrolment.”
For his part, an official from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Paapa Bartels, who represented the sector Minister, asked Post Graduate students to develop entrepreneurial mindset after school. He entreated the postgraduate students to discover ways of making themselves employable rather than depending on government for employment after school.
Mr. Bartels, who is the Team Leader Subcontracting and Partnership Exchange at the Ministry, expressed surprise at the alarming rate at which postgraduate students present their curriculum vitae to industries immediately after completion of school and rather advised them to market themselves. “Currently, when we complete school the first thing we do is to put together our CV. But I am challenging you. The first thing you should put together is your marketing. And your marketing is putting together your programmes and projects that you can sell,” he added.
He called on Schools of Graduate Studies in tertiary institutions to revise their curriculum to include the introduction of entrepreneurship course to enable students to come out from school with entrepreneurial mindset. He used the occasion to outline initiatives of the Ministry dubbed “ten points industrial transformation”, which includes the one district one factory initiative. He, therefore, called on post graduate students to form groups to create their own businesses after school. “What about five or ten people putting their heads together and setting up a factory that will produce something within the region. What about five or ten people going to Nana and say Nana we want do something in the fishing industry,” he said.
In a remark, the Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Council, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, noted that the high interest rates charged by commercial banks were some of the challenges facing the youth to venture into entrepreneurship. “After forming companies, how are they going to start doing their own business now the banks are charging 35% of interest rate. Who can work with 35% and make profit,” he said. He appealed to the government to set up a fund, which will attract zero percent interest rate, to encourage students to venture into entrepreneurship.
The President of GRASAG-UCC, Mr. Benjamin Sundame, on his part, paid glowing tribute to past executives of the Association for their performance. He said the School of Graduate Studies had collaborated with the Association to introduce many initiatives such as the introduction of the graduate assistants and demonstrators’ policy to assist students acquire skills and financial support and the introduction of two graduation sessions, among others.
Osabarima Kwesi Atta II mentioned the need for mentors and academic advisors, late proposal defence in some departments, delay of final work and the difficulty in getting assessors, and poor lecture rooms and laboratories as some of the challenges facing post graduate students.
As part of the event, GRASAG-UCC honoured the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, and Prof Anamuah-Mensah, who are past members of the association, with shields for their relentless contributions to the association.
The programme was chaired by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Ernest Okorley.
The Auditor-General of Ghana, Mr. Daniel Yaw Domelevo, has called for a concerted effort involving all Ghanaians to win the fight against corruption in the country.
In line with this, Mr. Domelevo charged ordinary Ghanaians to collaborate with those in responsible positions to use their good offices to fight the menace of corruption, which cut across all facets of national life.
“In fact, some of us (Public Officers) have the mandate to fight corruption, but we may not be capable. You (ordinary Ghanaians) may be capable but you have no mandate. Therefore, we must come together so that I can use your capacity to fight this cancer(corruption),” he said.
Mr. Domelevo was speaking at the 5th Jurists’ Confab organised by the Faculty of Law on the theme “The Urgent Need to Win the Fight against Corruption to Ensure Ghana’s Sustainable Development – the Role of the Law”.
The well-attended event was aimed at creating a platform for members of the bench, the bar and other distinguished scholars to interact with one another and to confer recent development in the law with the view to building the capacity of the key operations in the legal sectors. To win the war against corruption, he called for right leadership to be at the helm of affairs at every sector of the society and not to limit leadership to the presidency.
“If you have the right leadership, you will get the right results. Leadership as not in His Excellency the President only…”, he added.
The Auditor- General who spoke on “Urgent need to Win the Fight Against Corruption to Ensure Sustainable Development”, suggested effective and strong legislation to win the fight against the menace, pointing out that the Financial Administration Act 2003 was a better legislation as compared to the current Public Financial Management ACT 2016.
Mr. Domelevo recommended that citizens should be educated from crèche to the tertiary level on the dangers of corruption and the need for them not to indulge in the canker to deprive the country of massive development. He called for the cancellation of post retirement contracts awarded to senior citizens who were on compulsory retirement to enable the youth to get employment in the country.
That, he noted, would reduce the rising incidence of corrupt practices which had bedeviled the country. He said asset disclosure and decentralization of public service were the way to go if the war against corruption could be won.
For his part, the Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD- Ghana), Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, who spoke on “Harnessing the full Potential of the Law in the Fight Against Corruption: Looking beyond the Criminal Act”, said the Criminal Law made provision for the country to rely solely on centralised authority to initiate prosecutorial powers to fight corruption. He noted that public offices such as the Economic and organised Crime Office were understaffed with limited resources to fight corrupt practices at all levels of the society.
Prof. Prempeh advocated a decentralisation system where every citizen could become a privateadministrative laws, among others, as complementary legal tools to win the fight against graft.
Speaking on “Fighting Corruption Why the Law is Crucial but it is not Enough”, the Vice-President of IMANI Ghana, Mr. Kofi Bentil, stressed that written law was important but not enough as compared to living laws of citizens in a group. He said the “Living Law is built within circles where people in an association respect their rules which bind them, but do not respect the country’s laws”. He mentioned that Living Law could be virtuous in several instances, citing an example where some Canadian doctors protested against their pay raises because they already make too much money.
Mr. Bentil, therefore, called for the closure of the gap between Living law and Written law in the society. “… What you have to do is to build a society where the gap is narrow as such as possible between living law and written law,” he said. He decried the practice where traditional authorities and high level officials in the society intervene for accused corrupt officials who were in the grips of the law to be freed.
The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Prof. Letlhokwa George Mpedi, who delivered an address on the theme “The Role of the Law in the Fight Against Corruption in the Republic of South Africa: Are there any Lessons for the Republic of Ghana?”, enumerated many legislations aimed at fighting corruption in South Africa.
Among others, he mentioned the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, Public Financial Management Act, Public Administrative Act, Financial Intelligent Center Act and Prevention and Combating Corruption Act. He said some of the agencies charged with the responsibility to fight corruption include Police, Special Unit, Office of the Public Protector, among several others.
Prof. Mpedi touched on the Public Financial Management, Naming and Shaming and Hot lines as some of the preventive measures in the war against graft in South Africa. He noted that inability of companies to report corrupt officials, lack of resources of state institutions and the lack of effective cooperation between South Africa and other countries as some of the obstacles facing his country to battle corruption. He pointed out that independent media, leadership, civil society organisations and institutions of higher learning as key players in the war against graft in South Africa.
The confab, which was interspersed with musical interlude from the Euphonics, was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Mr. Kujo McDave, Judges, Provosts, Law students and members of the public.
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Johannesburg University, South Africa, to deepen the collaboration between the two institutions.
The purpose of the MoU is to establish joint research programme, exchange of post graduate students, as well as student exchange and study abroad programmes.
Other areas of the collaboration include exchange of academic employees for the purpose of research, teaching and the presentation of special courses in the fields of their specialisation, jointly funded or third-party funded educational or economic assistance activities. The rest are joint conferences, seminars and symposia, exchange of scientific and educational literature produced by either or both of the parties, as well as exchange of materials on the most relevant and topical research by researchers of both parties.
The Pro-Vice- Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro , signed on behalf of UCC, whilst the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law of the Johannesburg University , Prof. Letlhokwa George Mpeisy, signed on behalf of his University.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof. Oduro, said: " For us,UCC, we want our Faculty of Law to be a model which the nation will emulate in terms of our delivery and practice ". He said UCC was committed to activities that would build the capacities of its staff and students. He used the occasion to commend the Founding Dean Of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Bondzi Simpson, for laying a solid foundation for the Faculty which was being built upon by the current Dean of the Faculty, Mr. Kujo McDave.
For his part, Prof.Letlhokwa George Mpeisy, expressed appreciation to the University management for the opportunity to partner the Faculty of Law of UCC . He assured the Pro -Vice-Chancellor that his University would abide by the provisions in the MoU.
Prof. Letlhokwa George Mpeisy was accompanied on the visit by Prof. Sarel Du Toit, Prof. Charl Hugo and Mr. Theophilus E. Coleman, a LLD candidate, from the Faculty of Law at the University of Johannesburg.
Present at the brief ceremony were the Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan; the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Mr. Kujo McDave, and some officials of the Faculty.
The out-going United States of America Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Robert Jackson, has said the United States supports the presidents vision of Ghana Beyond Aid.
The US Ambassador said, the US would take concrete steps to help achieve the vision of Ghana Beyond Aid specifically in the four areas of mutual concern; economic growth, health and education; peace and security; and good governance.
It is for this reason that we want to create an economy that will thrive so that we can create jobs.
Mr. Jackson said economic research has shown that Ghana’s economy lost millions of dollars due to ‘Dumsor’. He indicated that, inadequate and unreliable power stifles growth and for that matter the US government through the Compact agreement was contributing substantially to the power sector to ensure that the country had reliable power and also turn the Electricity Company of Ghana into a reliable and affordable power company.
He said with proper management, ECG could become a profitable company saying “The compact is a good deal for Ghana”.
Mr. Jackson said what the US was proposing in the Defense Cooperation Agreement was meant to be beneficial to both countries explaining that, this partnership has existed for over 20 years covering the periods of the two big parties NDC and NPP.
The Ambassador added that: “The Ghanaian forces will be training with the US forces, the US forces come here temporary and will not establish a base”.
“The handful of soldiers already here have shown capability for stability in the sub-region. What we are asking for is to partner with the country to promote an orderly world”, he said.
Continuing, Mr. Jackson indicated that the president’s vision of Ghana Beyond Aid could not be realized without Good Governance. He said pervasive corruption steals from the people since according to him “It inhibits free enterprise, compromises the availability of good health care, eats away livelihood and opportunities to the citizenry”.
Mr. Jackson called for a relentless fight in the promotion of human rights adding “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere”. He said, the friendship between Ghana and the US was well established already, since American staff were posted here prior to independence and currently lots of Ghanaians and Americans work in that embassy. The US Ambassador noted that, the US was not just looking at building relationship but wanted to create an environment within which Ghanaian businesses will grow.
The Chairman of the University Governing Council, Mrs. Nancy O. C. Thompson, chaired the function. Present were the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, the Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan! some Provosts, Deans, Directors and Heads of Department.
The Counselling Centre will be introducing an online counselling platform for members of the University community to interact and share their concerns with professional counsellors.
The online counselling, scheduled to start on Monday, April 2, 2018, will enable students and staff to select and communicate with a counsellor on one-to- one basis through the usage of instant messaging App, WhatsApp.
The Director of the Centre, Prof. Godwin Awabil, who made the announcement said the initiative was to complement the traditional face-to-face approach to counselling.
Prof. Godwin Awabil announced this at the opening of a three-day Suicide Awareness and Prevention Crusade on the theme:” Reaching Out: Preventing Suicide, Saving Lives”. It was aimed at creating awareness about suicide and also view to prevent its occurrence within the University community and its environs.
Dr. Awabil described suicide as a serious public health problem worldwide and added that media reports indicated that suicide in Ghana was on the ascendency. “Between February and March 2017, seven people had committed suicide in less than two weeks in different parts of the country. Recently, both attempted and completed suicide cases have been reported by the media”, he said, citing examples. He disclosed that as part of the programme, the mental health of students and staff would be assessed using depression, anxiety, anger, self-esteem and forgiveness questionnaires.
He said those who would require psychological support would be assisted with the view to improving their mental health.
Present at the seminar were the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. L.K Sam-Amoah, the Dean of Educational Foundations, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson and the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Koawo Edjah.