Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy & Documentation (CEGRAD, UCC) in collaboration with the Theologische Hochschule Friedensau,, Germany presents the 2017 International PhD Summer School. Theme: Land Use and Mobile Livelihoods: Intersectional Perspectives on Pastoralism, Migration and Displacement Venue:University of Cape Coast Date: 24th July-4th August, 2017
Participants at the end of a two-day National Security Forum organised at the University of Cape Coast have called on Ghanaians to tackle security as a collective responsibility. The participants, in a communique released to the media, stressed that peace and security are prerequisites for development and noted that issues of mob injustice, vigilantism, land guards, drug trafficking, ethnic and chieftaincy disputes threaten state peace and security. The two-day forum on National Security was on the theme, "Ghana's Peace and Security 60 Years on: Successes, Challenges and Prospects”. It was organised by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, in collaboration with the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa, and the National Peace Council. Participants were drawn from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Bureau of National Investigation, political parties, civil society organisations, second cycle institutions, youth groups, academics and postgraduate students of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Participants noted that corruption, unemployment and inequality were major public enemies that undermine the security of a country. They, therefore, called on all Ghanaians to see national security as a shared responsibility and as such, they should be willing to volunteer information to the security agencies, as regards issues that could endanger national security, life and property for prompt measures to be taken. Participants also urged citizens to take interest in safety programmes such as the fire safety education programmes organised by the Ghana National Fire Service, stressing that "safety in security is better than security in safety. " The stakeholders also called on politicians to refrain from politicising issues on national security and implored political leaders to allow security officials to perform their professional duties without any hindrance. They also called for security of tenure for security chiefs and heads of security agency, to promote efficiency in the discharge of their mandate. Participants also urged management of tertiary institutions to consider security on campus as a topmost priority in ensuring effective teaching and learning. Among the discussants at the Forum were the Minister for Interior, Hon. Ambrose Dery; Deputy Minister for Defense, Hon. Derek Oduro (Rtd); a former National Security Advisor, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah; Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most Rev. Professor Emmanuel Asante; a former Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies (UCC), Prof. Stephen B. Kendie, and the Head of the Department of Research at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre (KAIPC), Dr. Kwesi Anning.
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology, in collaboration with the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) and the National Peace Council (NPC) has organised a two-day forum on national security to address security challenges confronting the nation. The forum was organised under the theme, “Ghana’s Peace and Security 60 years on: Successes, challenges and prospects.” In his opening remarks, the Head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Dr. Brempong Osei-Tutu, thanked faculty members and students of the Department for their support in sustaining the forum over the years. He said the forum aimed at examining Ghana's security architecture and interrogating the role the various agencies have played in the past and examining the way forward for these agencies in ensuring a more peaceful environment that would enhance the country's socio-economic and political development. On his part, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Francis Eric Amuquandoh, implored Ghanaians to refrain from acts that could dent the enviable reputation and image of the country. He called for a second look at the rising incidence of armed robbery, political vigilantism and mob injustice, to help restore sanity to the country. Opening the forum, the Deputy Minister of Interior, Hon. Henry Quartey, who represented the Minister for Interior, Hon. Ambrose Dery, explained that peace and stability were preconditions for sustainable national development of the country. Hon. Henry Quartey expressed the readiness of government to maintain law and order and deal ruthlessly with trouble makers in accordance with the laws. He noted that insecurity retarded the development of the nation and affected investor confidence in revamping the country's economy. On his part, the Deputy Minister for Defense, Major Derek Oduro (Rtd), observed that government was committed to preserving the environment and fighting the menace of illegal mining (Galamsey) tooth and nail. He noted that government would not renege on its mandate to provide adequate security for the citizenry. A former National Security Advisor, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, on his part, observed that before independence, the political atmosphere of Ghana was more sustainable than the present situation. He, however, expressed worry that state institutions had compromised their standards to the whims and caprices of political leaders. He called on the government to tap the experiences of people who could help the development of the nation, irrespective of their political affiliations. The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most Rev. Professor Emmanuel Asante, stated that the scourge of unemployment among the youth was a threat to national security. Therefore, he appealed to the government to formulate an ironclad national policy on job creation to address the rising rate of unemployment among the teeming youth of the country. Prof Asante urged like- minded individuals and international development-oriented organisations to incorporate security consciousness into their social intervention policies and programmes to help maintain law and order in the country. Rev. Prof. Asante underscored the need for a national effort to jealousy guard the nation’s peace and stability credentials to attract the requisite investments to create jobs. The Head of the Department of Research at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre (KAIPC), Dr. Kwesi Anning, commended the Department for the initiative and urged Civil Society Organizations to engage stakeholders on the need for peace and security. He also called on Ghanaians to note that “national peace is a shared responsibility and not the sole responsibility of the security agencies”. Dr. Anning concluded that, “The second step is to translate what has been discussed here into practical policy intervention. These deliberations give some seriousness and prudence to the problem of peace and security in Ghana”. Participants at the forum were drawn from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Bureau of National Security, Civil Society Organisations, political parties, second cycle institutions, youth groups, faculty and postgraduate students of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, UCC.
The Security Section has defeated College of Humanities and Legal Studies (CHLS) 1-0 in the finals to lift this year's Staff Games Competition. The competition, which was organised by the Sports Section, was aimed at keeping staff members of the University fit. Hundreds of spectators thronged the venue to cheer their respective teams on to a resounding victory. Ussif Issah's 17th minute strike made the difference to enable the Security Section to carry the day. As winners for the competition, the Security Section team took home a trophy, football and a set of hose and jerseys, while CHLS received a trophy and a set of hose and jerseys. Sam Jonah Library came third and went home with a trophy and a set of Jerseys. All other participating teams also received undisclosed packages from the organisers. In his address, the Provost of the College of Distance Education, Prof. Isaac Galyuon, who chaired the competition, congratulated the Security Section on their victory and commiserated with the losers. He commended the Sports Section for instituting the games to keep staff members strong and healthy. Prof. Galyuon, who presented the magnificent trophy to the winners, advised the Security Section not to be complacent but to train harder to retain the trophy next year. He called on other participating teams to redouble their efforts so as to achieve similar feat. Dr. Charles Domfeh, Chairman of Sports and Recreation Committee, expressed gratitude to all the teams for their sterling performance in the competition. He thanked the officials, players and supporters for exhibiting high sense of discipline throughout the competition.
Barclays Bank Ghana as part of its Shared Growth Ambition programme is offering scholarships to 20 undergraduate students of the University of Cape Coast(UCC). The intended scholarship package, targeting strictly Ghanaian students from level 200 to 400, includes full payment of tuition fees, household income, laptop and food subsidy. The package, which is renewable for every academic year, also covers stationery, hostel and academic user fees. The Director of Marketing and Corporate Relations of the Bank, Mrs. Nana E. Boison, announced this when she led a three-member delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, at the Council Chamber. Mrs. Boison said over the past five years, the Bank had concentrated its energies on education and other humanitarian projects across Ghana, especially communities where the Bank conducts its operations. The Director stressed that the Bank had been enjoying cordial working relationship with the UCC. It was against this backdrop, Mrs. Boison explained, the Bank decided to introduce the scholarship scheme to brilliant but needy students of the University under the Barclays' Shared Growth Ambition initiative. Barclays' Shared Growth Ambition provides its clients, customers, shareholders and the communities which it serves access to a prosperous future. Giving details about the criteria of the Scholarship, Mrs. Boison stated that at the end of the scholarship year, beneficiary students could re-apply for the next academic year. In view of this, she said beneficiary students must attain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 and above to continuously enjoy the scholarship. The Director added that student beneficiaries would need to open a Barclays' Ignition Account (Student Account) into which the funds would be disbursed to support their basic needs. Welcoming the delegation, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T. Oduro, conveyed the deepest felicitations of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, to the delegation. He thanked the Bank for the Scholarship. Prof. Oduro expressed the hope that the Bank would expand the scholarship net in order to cover more students onto the scheme. He, however, requested the Bank to design special staff development packages to hone the skills and build capacities for all categories of staff of the UCC. Mrs. Boison was accompanied on the visit by Mr. Zubrin Mohammed (Assistant Vice-President, Corporate and Investment Banking) and Mr. Cyril Nai (Assistant Vice-President, Communications) Present at the meeting were the Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan; Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Koawo Edjah; Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Jeff Onyame; Deputy Director of Finance, Francis Obeng; Senior Assistant Registrar, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Mrs. Georgina Asi Owusu and Junior Assistant Registrar, Mr. Felix Adu-Poku.
The University Hospital has been designated as one of the centres for the 2017 Practical Licensure Exams by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). By this approval, the UCC Hospital has received hundreds of final-year training nurses and midwives posted by the Council to use the University Hospital as part of their Practical Licensure Exams, which will herald the theoretical exams in August. Candidates, who read academic programmes in Registered General Nursing, Registered Midwifery, Registered Critical Nurse and also Registered Mental Health Nurse, are expected to sit for the exams, spanning from July to August. In an interview, the Nurse Manager of the Hospital, Mr. Thomas Tamag, said last year (2016), a team from the NMC visited the Directorate to inspect and assess at first-hand the facilities of the Directorate and the feasibility of using the facility as an exams centre.According to him, the team expressed satisfaction with the high-powered equipment at the hospital and subsequently recommended the Hospital to the NMC for consideration. Consequently, he said the Council posted final-year Degree nurses of the University to the Directorate to undertake their 2016 Practical Licensure Exams, after meeting the Council’s requirements. Mr. Tamag indicated that the upcoming exams are in three phases, with both the first and second batches of diploma nurses starting theirs on July 10-15 and July 17-21 respectively, whilst the Degree nurses will sit for the exams on July 31 to mid-August. He advised candidates to abide by the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the exams and eschew all forms of examination malpractice.Mr. Tamag entreated staff and Unit Heads of the Directorate to co-operate with the candidates and examiners to make the exercise a success. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the regulatory body that monitors, enlists and regulates the activities of nurses and midwives in Ghana. The body is also responsible for the examination of student nurses and midwives for the award of their professional licensing.
Eagle Scout Project, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Texas, USA, has donated assorted colouring books and other teaching and learning materials to the Centre for Child Development Research and Referral (CCDRR) to augment teaching and learning of children with special needs. The Founder of the Project, Master Darnell Smalls, aged 16, said the project was aimed at supporting Special Needs Schools to provide quality education to children with disabilities. Recently, Master Smalls, who is a member of the Boys Scout of America, said his project had supported the Aboom School for Special Needs with colouring books and other learning materials through the generosity of public-spirited individuals and corporate institutions in the USA. The Faculty Officer of the Faculty of Educational Foundations, Mr. Kweku Arhin, who received the donation on behalf of the Centre, thanked the donor for the gesture and called on other benevolent institutions and philanthropists to come to their aid to help develop children with special needs. Master Darnell Smalls was accompanied on the visit by some members of his immediate family. A Senior Research Assistant at the Centre, Mrs.Martha- Pearl Okai, and some National Service Personnel were present at the short but colourful handover ceremony. The CCDRR serves as a resource centre where children with special educational needs are assessed and provided educational intervention on an individualised basis. The Centre is the first and only resource Centre for children with special educational needs that provides individualised special educational assessment and intervention services in the whole country. It refers children with special educational needs to medical professionals for assessment and suggests the appropriate educational placement for children with special educational needs.
An Assistant Principal at a Montgomery County Public Schools, USA, Dr. Faustina Quist, has called on Ghanaians to intensify awareness on special education in Ghana. "Special education has come to stay. But the awareness is not there. We can start from somewhere. It is a process,” she noted. Dr. Quist noted that in the USA, stakeholders put a premium on the thirteen disabilities areas identified under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Act, according to Dr. Quist, ensured that services were provided to children with disabilities, from aged zero to thirty-one. However, in Ghana, she expressed disquiet that much attention was being given to autism, deaf and dumb to the detriment of other disabilities. Dr. Quist made the observations when she delivered a paper on “Enhancing the Field of Special Education” at a day’s sensitisation seminar organised by the Department of Special Education under Faculty of Educational Foundations. She said children with special needs could be productive in every sector of the economy when they are given the requisite skills. she, therefore, advised parents who have children with disabilities not to abandon them to beg for alms. Dr. Quist explained to participants the systematic instructional methods of teaching kids with special needs in the classroom. She said the method of instruction for children with special needs was different from that of "normal" students adding, “if you have a child suffering from autism and you are like I need you to put this pencil here, I need you to sit down, etc. what you have to know is that the autistic child needs to process and organise what you said to him in his brain for a few seconds.” She urged special education institutions to take advantage of technology to teach students with disabilities, to facilitate learning. Dr. Quist called on authorities at Special Needs Centers to involve parents, regarding their wards education. The Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Eric Nyarko Simpson, in a brief remark, commended Dr. Quist for the lecture and added that the Department's doors were open for both local and international collaboration.
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) Basic School has presented the trophies it won at the just ended University Basic Schools Sports Association (UBaSSA) Games to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T. Oduro. The Headmistress of UCC JHS, Mrs. Kate Frimpong, led the sports team to present the trophies to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor. The 2017 edition of UBaSSA games, hosted by the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT) at Tarkwa, saw athletes from basic schools of University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and University of Cape Coast (UCC) participating. Participating Schools competed in soccer, athletics (100, 200, 400 and 4×100 meters) and field events (long jump and high jump). Briefing the Pro-Vice-Chancellor on the Games, a tutor at the Basic School, Mr. Ansah Obeng, said the team faced inclement weather at Tarkwa but they remained resolute throughout the competition. "During one of the races," Mr. Obeng recounted, “one athlete – a female - fell but she was able to rise and overtake her competitors to win the 400 meters”. On Soccer, he indicated that the female players of the school emerged winners while their male counterparts were runners up. Again, he said, the boys and girls won bronze and silver respectively at the primary levels. He assured the University that the team would continue to work hard with determination to achieve more laurels for the school. For his part, Pro-Vice-Chancellor commended the team for the discipline, teamwork and tenacity of purpose exhibited during the games. He entreated them to sustain the attitude, adding that they had done themselves, the Basic School and the University, proud. He urged the team to continue to work hard and replicate the sterling performance in the 2018 edition of the UBaSSA Games, which would be held at UCC. He advised the students to equally take their studies seriously in order to achieve academic excellence. Prof. Oduro pledged management’s continuous support for the team and praised the teachers for their extraordinary commitment, hard work and immense contribution to the development of sports in the University. At the end of the competition, both UCC and UMAT won 2 trophies each, whilst KNUST bagged home a trophy, and UG went home without a trophy. In a related development, the Basic School has won the 2017 Regional Scripture Union Super Zonal Bible Quiz contest. The School was presented with a shield as its prize. For his part, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T. Oduro, praised the participants for their remarkable feat. He advised them to allow the Bible govern every facet of their lives to ensure progress in happiness.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro has underscored the University’s commitment to coexist peacefully with communities surrounding University of Cape Coast, UCC. Prof. Oduro said the communities provide accommodation for both staff and students of the University, adding “whatever affects the communities has consequences on the University”. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor made these statements when he granted audience to elders of Apewosika Community. He assured the elders that management of the University would always open its doors for them and urged them to advise the youth of the community not to rush to the media on issues concerning the University. He made reference to a recent news report on one of the television networks where some youth of Apewosika accused the University for the leakage of liquid waste from a cesspit tank behind Atlantic Hall to the houses of some residents. Explaining further on the issue of the cesspit tank, Prof. Oduro said the University has procured materials to fix the cesspit tank and also construct drains at the affected areas. He added that staff of the Directorate of Physical Development Estate Management will soon begin work on the project to bring relief to people living close to Atlantic Hall. Speaking on behalf of the elders, Nana Nkwantabisa thanked Prof. Oduro for granting them opportunity to interact with the University delegation. He said the University had now become part and parcel of the Apewosika community, stressing that “some of our people are staff of the University and even our children are also studying here whilst those who are traders earn their source of income from students of the University”. He asked management of the University to forgive a section of the youth of Apewosika who recently demonstrated against the University. He noted that the elders had advised the youth of the community to channel their grievances on any issue through them. Some of the concerns raised by the elders at the meeting were payment of compensation, allocation of land for Apewosika Community Centre, scholarship for indigenes and diversion of drainage system. The elders were entreated to put their concerns into writing and also attach relevant documents where necessary. Present at the meeting were the Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Jeff Onyame, Director of Legal Consular and General Services, Director of Physical Development Estate Management, Mr. Philip Ntim. The other elders from Apewosika Community were Mr. Solomon Evans, Ebusuapanyin Kweku Essoun and Mr. Francis Nyame.