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Improve Teaching of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Educational Institutions

30 Jun, 2017 By louis Mensah

A call has been made to improve the teaching of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) in educational institutions to ensure increased awareness of reproductive health among adolescents. This has become necessary because, the provision of accurate and comprehensive SRH education is necessary to ensure healthy sexual and reproductive lives for adolescents. The call was made at workshop to disseminate research findings on “Sexuality Education in Ghana: New Evidence from Three Regions” a study conducted by some faculty from the Department of Population and Health, UCC and researchers from Guttmacher Institute. The UCC faculty who participated in the study were Prof. Kofi Awusabo-Asare, Dr. David Teye Doku, Prof. Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme, Mr. Kobina Esia-Donkoh and Dr. Joshua Amo-Adjei whilst the researchers from Guttmacher Institute were Melissa Stillman, Sarach Keogh, Ellie Leong and Akinrinola Bankole. The study was sponsored by the Guttmacher Institute with grants from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. Making a presentation on the research report, the lead researcher, Prof. Awusabo-Asare said the study was conducted in the Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo and Northern regions in 2015. He said few students reported learning about all topics related to contraception, gender and SRH rights, and interpersonal skills. He indicated that teachers believed that adolescents should be taught some issues relating to healthy sexuality. However, he noted that some messages conveyed to the students were reportedly fear-inducing and judgmental, emphasising that “sex is depicted to be dangerous and immoral for young people.” Touching on the recommendations of the study, Prof. Awusabo-Asare said there was the need to strengthen efforts to demystify and desensationalise sexuality among adolescents. The lead researcher called for continuous sensitisation of the community, teachers and school heads, in the provision of SRH education and related skills to adolescents. He also said there should be priority on comprehensive and rights-based focus to SRH education at the primary and junior high school levels to ensure that students receive essential age-appropriate information and skills prior to initiating sexual activity. Prof. Awusabo-Asare said the report also called for the introduction of wide range of topics in the core subjects of senior high schools, and investment in teaching and learning materials and other resources to promote SRH education for the healthy development of adolescents. Also, he said teachers should be adequately prepared to deliver accurate, appropriate and effective information to their students. He further emphasised the need for active engagement with key stakeholders including community opinion leaders and school boards regarding the current evidence relating to SRH education in order to improve support for teaching a broad range of topics that go beyond abstinence. The programme brought together some stakeholders like queen mothers, health workers, educationists, teachers and journalists. Stakeholders at the workshop called for a comprehensive policy that will prioritise the teaching of sexual and reproductive health education in schools. The workshop was chaired by the Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh.

Vice-Chancellor Meets Unibank Delegation

30 Jun, 2017 By louis Mensah

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has received a delegation from Unibank at the Council Chamber. The visit, according to the Head of New Business Department, Mr. Richard Anane, who led the delegation, was to congratulate Prof. Ampiah on his appointment and also explore possible areas of collaboration. He said the bank was committed to ensuring that the Vice-Chancellor achieved his vision for the University. Mr. Anane thanked the University for supporting the bank and gave the assurance that the bank would continue to deliver quality service to its customers on campus and provide them with innovative products that meet their needs. Welcoming the delegation, the Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude to the bank for the business it had been doing with the University over the years. He, however, intimated that the University would open its doors wide to bank(s) which would offer competitive products and services to both staff and students. Earlier, a two-member delegation from UBA Bank called on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, at his office. The Deputy Managing Director of UBA Bank, Mr. Soni Anwal, indicated that the visit was to congratulate him on his inauguration as Vice-Chancellor and also find possible ways of doing business with the University. Mr. Anwal, on behalf of the bank, requested a parcel of land to put up a building to enable the bank to provide banking services to members of the University community.

University of Auburn Outreach Global hosts University of Cape Coast Graduate Students and Faculty Member

28 Jun, 2017 By louis Mensah

As part of the Auburn University Outreach Global partnership agreement with the University of Cape Coast, or UCC, Ghana, Outreach Global invited Michael Boakye-Yiadom, a research fellow at UCC in the Institute for Educational Planning and Administration, and his two graduate students, Clarence Uzogara and Eleanor Onyame, to participate in the Outreach youth camp for a train-the-trainer program and service learning program at the Black Belt Community. The UCC guests were on Auburn’s campus from June 11-20. The purpose of the service learning program was to offer the UCC guests an opportunity to visit Selma to learn and understand poverty in a global context through interactions, research, reflections and journaling. The UCC participants are expected to use the experience to inform, practice and find innovative ways to address issues of poverty in UCC and communities in Ghana. With regard to the train-the-trainer youth camp program, the focus for the educational camp was for the UCC members to learn from Auburn faculty and staff on how summer camps are organized and managed. The goal is to replicate summer youth programs at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana next year. During the visit, the UCC guests met Auburn Vice President for University Outreach and Associate Provost Royrickers Cook; Elizabeth I. Essamuah-Quansah, coordinator for Outreach Global; Stacey Nickson, director of the Center for Educational Outreach and Engagement; Jeff Dyal, assistant director of youth programs; other Auburn faculty and staff; Selma Mayor Darrio Melton and the Black Belt Community Foundation officials in Selma. Credit: http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/campus_notices/faculty_staff/2017/06/outreach-global-hosts-university-of-cape-coast-graduate-students-and-faculty-member-.htm

Director of Audit Donates Jerseys, footballs to University Primary and JHS

28 Jun, 2017 By louis Mensah

The Director of Internal Audit, Mr. Emmanuel Owusu, has presented two sets of Jersey, two footballs and two trophies each to the University Primary and Junior High Schools respectively towards the development of sports in the two schools. The donation was in response to an appeal made by the authorities at the University Primary to benevolent individuals for sporting kits to enable the school to participate in the University Basic Schools Sports Association (UBaSSA) Games in 2016. Making the presentation at the premises of the school, Mr. Owusu, who is a past student of the University Primary school, said the donation was to motivate the pupils to participate actively in sports. He stressed the need for the school pupils to be given the opportunity to develop their talents through exposure to extra curricula and academic work. The Director of Internal Audit, who was accompanied by some staff members of the Directorate, appealed to the pupils to learn hard to justify the huge parental investments being made in them in their academic pursuit. The Headmistress of the University Primary School, Mrs. Georgina Aglobitse, who received the items on behalf of the schools, thanked the donor for the kind gesture. She was optimistic the items would spur the two schools to win more laurels in all sporting activities. The Headmistress appealed to other past students of the schools, the general public and other corporate institutions to emulate the gesture by extending their Corporate Social Responsibilities to the Schools. Mrs. Aglobitse promised to use the items for the intended purpose so as to build the talents of the school children in sporting activities. The Headmistress of the Junior High School, Mrs. Kate Frimpong, as well as other teachers, was present during the ceremony. In a related development, the Director of Internal Audit, Mr. Emmanuel Owusu, has presented a giant trophy to the Sports Section to be given to the winner of the 2017 Staff Soccer Competition. He said that the donation formed part of his contribution to the advancement of sports in the University. Receiving the item on behalf of the Section, the Head Coach of the Section, Dr. Daniel Apaak, commended Mr. Owusu for his immense contribution towards the development and progress of sports on campus. "In fact, when it comes to sports, this man (Mr. Owusu) is always there for us. We cannot talk about UCC Sports without mentioning his name," he said.

Your Promotion Hinges on Research-Dr. Adu-Yeboah advises College of Education Tutors

28 Jun, 2017 By louis Mensah

A Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Education, Dr. Christine Adu-Yeboah has entreated tutors of Ola College of Education (OLA-CoE) to develop their skills in research publication in order to progress in their academic career. Dr. Adu-Yeboah noted that with the elevation of the various Colleges of Education into tertiary status, tutors were expected to publish in credible peer reviewed journals in order to be promoted. “Just like the University, you either publish or perish and I am sure no one will want to perish”, she added. Dr. Adu-Yeboah made these statements when she delivered a presentation on research publication at a workshop for tutors of OLA-CoE. She indicated that the objective of the workshop was to build the capacity of tutors to publish research articles in peer reviewed journals. According to her, at the end of the workshop, participants would be expected to select researchable topics in their areas of expertise and start developing papers for publication in peer reviewed journals. She therefore, encouraged the tutors to send articles to the Institute of Education Flagship Journal of Educational Development and Practice (JED-P) adding that some tutors from other Colleges have already published their articles in this journal. Some of the component of publication articles discussed at the workshop were abstract, background to the study, review of related literature, theoretical framework, concept framework, purpose of study and research questions/hypothesis. Others included methodology, results, discussions, conclusions, recommendations and references. Giving an overview on publication research, Dr. Adu-Yeboah said unlike thesis, research articles are shorter in length and normally have between 1,000 to 12, 000 words. She explained that there are two main types of publications namely “empirical studies/research articles” and “position/viewpoint paper.” Explaining the guidelines for submitting manuscripts, she advised the tutors to observe the following: identify a credible journal to submit articles; correcting all errors especially grammatical and spelling mistakes and avoiding plagiarism. Participants had the opportunity to try their hands on some articles in their subject areas.

TEWU/SSAUCC Brass Band Launched

28 Jun, 2017 By louis Mensah

The Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) and Senior Staff Association of the University of Cape Coast (SSAUCC) Brass Band has been inaugurated with a call on members of the University community and the general public to patronize it. The immediate past Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. Samuel Yeboah Mensah, who made the call, commended the two associations for introducing the Brass Band, which is the first of its kind by the two unions in the University. He stated that the two associations were extremely vibrant and have won the hearts of many on campus. “If you are looking for associations which perform creditably to win the hearts of everybody, then it is TEWU and Senior Staff Association (SSA),” he said. As a result, Prof. Mensah called on other associations to emulate the vibrancy of both TEWU and SSA. He stressed that “music is food for the soul and plays many roles in the lives of the poor, rich, downtrodden and wealthy in the society”. He entreated members of the Band to take good care of the instruments so that they would last longer. In a remark, the Chairman of TEWU, Mr. Stephen Williams, said the formation of the Band had saved the association the cost of hiring brass band to support its activities such as May Day celebrations and health walks and added that student groups, halls, and other unions would equally benefit from the services of the Brass Band. He advised members of the Brass Band to exhibit high sense of discipline, commitment and seriousness during rehearsals so they could play to the satisfaction of their clients. The Chairman of SSA, Mr. Daniel Egyir Arthur, for his part, said that the executives of the association would not dissipate resources but would prudently use the contributions of members to initiate tangible projects for the growth of the association. He noted the leadership of the associations would seek permission from the management to enable members of the band to perform at programmes during working hours. He however, admonished them not to use such periods for their personal gains. The two associations unanimously made Prof. Samuel Yeboah Mensah the patron of the Band due to his unflinching support for the two unions.

Nyansapo College Grateful to UCC

27 Jun, 2017 By louis Mensah

Four officials from Nyansapo College have paid a courtesy call on the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, to thank UCC for providing good mentorship to the College. The officials were the Rector, Prof. Victor Essien; Vice Rector, Ambassador A. B. Kumi; Dean, Dr. Alex K. Archine and Prof. Edward Mensah who is the External Examiner for the College. Explaining the purpose of the meeting, Prof. Essien said the College became an affiliate of UCC in 2016 and had benefitted immensely from the relationship adding “we have evaluated our relationship with UCC over the last year, and I am proud to say that it has really been successful”. In response, Prof. Oduro said sustenance of the affiliation was key and therefore, the University was concerned about issues of quality. He said the UCC would continue to support UCC affiliate institutions to ensure that they maintain quality in all their activities. “The National Accreditation Board has for instance raised queries about the qualification of lecturer and the entry requirements of students enrolled in some affiliate institutions” he stressed. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor said he was excited that the College had engaged a renowned external examiner from the University of Illinois, Chicago in the United States of America to offer input in their academic work. He commended management of the College for instituting quality assurance measures in their operations especially, academic work. Present at the meeting were the Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Jeff Onyame; Dr. K. S. Aikins of the Institute for Development Studies; Head of Institutional Affiliation Office (IAO), Mr. Justice Agyenim Boateng and Mr. Peter Fosu Thompson of IAO.

SRC Executives Call on Minister for Information

27 Jun, 2017 By louis Mensah

The leadership of the Students' Representative Council (SRC) has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Information, Hon. Mustapha Abdul Hamid, at his office in Accra. The visit was intended to congratulate the minister on his appointment and introduce the newly-elected SRC officials. Receiving the SRC delegation, Hon. Mustapha Hamid expressed gratitude to the executives for the visit and honour done him. He advised the executives to come up with educative programmes that would empower and build the capacities of students. The Minister, who is a former UCC SRC president, advised the student leaders to bring innovation and quality leadership to bear on the students' front. “Don’t just come and do what people have been doing over the years, you need to leave a lasting legacy," he cautioned. Hon. Hamid also disclosed that he had contacted the University of Istanbul and Sinop University which had shown interest to collaborate with UCC concerning lecturers and students exchange programmes. The Minister said he appealed to the authorities at Sinop University to extend similar assistance to other Ghanaian universities. The Minister also noted that he had informed the Head of the Department of Theatre Arts, Dr. Vitus Nanbigne, to apply to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for an Amphitheatre and promised to ensure that the facility was constructed on campus. He reaffirmed his unalloyed support to SRC programmes and initiatives. "If you are doing any projects or programmes that you need support from anywhere in Ghana, as far as I'm still on this seat, we can use our influences to help," he assured the SRC executives. For his part, the SRC President, Mr. Henry Tony Arthur thanked the Minister for the warm reception accorded the delegation. He appealed to the Minister to use his good offices to get a Pick-Up vehicle for the UCC Security Section to complement night patrol on campus and the “Diaspora".

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UCC Glass Blowing Unit Ready to Produce Quality Glassware for Health and Educational Institutions

21 Jun, 2017 By louis Mensah

The Glass Blowing Unit of the University has been equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment worth GH ¢3 Million to produce different types of glassware to serve the needs of laboratories in Health Facilities, Senior High Schools and Tertiary Institutions in the country. The refurbishment of the Unit which was funded by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training now boasts of state of the art equipment for the production of different types of laboratory glassware such as burettes, pipettes, condensers, centri fuge tubes, boiling tubes, test tubes, round and flat bottom flasks. Other glasses to be produced by the Unit include separating funnel (250ml), thistle funnel and khan tubes. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, said management of the University was elated that the dream of the Glass Blowing Project had been finally realised. He noted that many schools in the rural areas were disadvantaged due to the unavailability of well-equipped science laboratories and as such the Glass Blowing Unit would help fill that gap. Prof. Oduro appealed to COTVET to consider assisting the University to set up mobile science laboratories to assist such schools. “UCC has the capacity to teach and promote science education and the project will motivate young ones to pursue science to the tertiary level” He used the opportunity to appeal to the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) to revisit the Science Remedial Programme which used to be run by the University. The Coordinator and Head of COTVET-Project Support Unit, Mr. Matthew Dally said the support to UCC was part of the just ended Ghana Skills and Technology Development Project which was implemented by COTVET with funding from the World Bank and DANIDA. He noted that one of the focal areas of the Project was to enhance the capacity of research institutions to develop technology required by the private sector. “By supporting DRIC with a total of about GH ¢1, 329,8444.04 to acquire modern glassblowing technology, COTVET is convinced that the Directorate cannot only produce efficiently what was previously imported with scarce foreign exchange but also market its products to other laboratories in Ghana, thereby raising revenue to sustain its operations” he stated.

Mr. Dally said apart from the Glassblowing project, COTVET has also supported some departments in the University to undertake other projects. He mentioned that COTVET supported the Department of Vocational and Technical Education with GH¢ 434,250 to develop Competency Based Training Modules in Computer Aided Designing to train tailors and dressmakers in modern industry trends. He also said an amount of GH ¢984, 896 was awarded to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences to enhance its capacity to provide training in fish farming to the private sector and student. This he said had culminated in the formation of partnership between the University and Ainoo-Ansah Farms at Gomoa Okyereko to provide training in that direction In addition, he said the School of Agriculture, the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Conservation Biology and Entomology were engaged as service providers by COTVET to transfer modern skills and technology to the oil and gas and agriculture sectors of the economy. He expressed the hope that the University would take good care of the facility adding that “we believe the University being a centre of excellence will employ its good maintenance culture to ensure that the facilities and the equipment provided stood the test of time.

The immediate past Minister for Education, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang said science has always recorded the highest number of students who study for remedial classes. She said UCC was determined to make great impact through teaching, learning and research work in science, “UCC is not poised for flight but in flight, “she added. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said she was looking forward to the demonstration of the glassblowing technology at the annual COTVET Exhibition. Giving the background of the Glass Blowing Unit, the Director of Research Innovation and Consultancy, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim said the idea to refurbish the Unit was conceived during tenure of Prof. Opoku-Agyemang as Vice-Chancellor in 2011. However, he explained that in 2013, COTVET accepted a proposal from UCC to fund the refurbishment of the Unit and the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole led a team from UCC to sign a contract in the same year at the Ministry of Education. He said the Unit was poised to produce high quality glassware for Universities, Senior High Schools, Health Facilities. Prof. Annim commended the current Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah and the two former Vice-Chancellors for their respective roles in making the Glassblowing Unit project a reality. He also expressed gratitude to the Ministries of Health and Education; Ghana Association of Science Teachers (GAST) and the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) for their support. The Dean of the School of Physical Sciences, Prof. Kofi Essuman said the Unit was capable of producing 5, 000 pipette and 10, 000 test tubes a month. He said the glassware produced by the Unit was conducive for the African Climate unlike those which normally suit temperatures found in that region. Prof. Essuman made a passionate appeal for the revamping of the Aboso Glass Factory to reduce the importation of raw materials for the manufacturing of the glassware.

UCC Glass Blowing Unit Ready to Produce Quality Glassware for Health and Educational Institutions

21 Jun, 2017 By louis Mensah

The Glass Blowing Unit of the University has been equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment worth GH ¢3 Million to produce different types of glassware to serve the needs of laboratories in Health Facilities, Senior High Schools and Tertiary Institutions in the country. The refurbishment of the Unit which was funded by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training now boasts of state of the art equipment for the production of different types of laboratory glassware such as burettes, pipettes, condensers, centri fuge tubes, boiling tubes, test tubes, round and flat bottom flasks. Other glasses to be produced by the Unit include separating funnel (250ml), thistle funnel and khan tubes. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, said management of the University was elated that the dream of the Glass Blowing Project had been finally realised. He noted that many schools in the rural areas were disadvantaged due to the unavailability of well-equipped science laboratories and as such the Glass Blowing Unit would help fill that gap. Prof. Oduro appealed to COTVET to consider assisting the University to set up mobile science laboratories to assist such schools. “UCC has the capacity to teach and promote science education and the project will motivate young ones to pursue science to the tertiary level” He used the opportunity to appeal to the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) to revisit the Science Remedial Programme which used to be run by the University. The Coordinator and Head of COTVET-Project Support Unit, Mr. Matthew Dally said the support to UCC was part of the just ended Ghana Skills and Technology Development Project which was implemented by COTVET with funding from the World Bank and DANIDA. He noted that one of the focal areas of the Project was to enhance the capacity of research institutions to develop technology required by the private sector. “By supporting DRIC with a total of about GH ¢1, 329,8444.04 to acquire modern glassblowing technology, COTVET is convinced that the Directorate cannot only produce efficiently what was previously imported with scarce foreign exchange but also market its products to other laboratories in Ghana, thereby raising revenue to sustain its operations” he stated. Mr. Dally said apart from the Glassblowing project, COTVET has also supported some departments in the University to undertake other projects. He mentioned that COTVET supported the Department of Vocational and Technical Education with GH¢ 434,250 to develop Competency Based Training Modules in Computer Aided Designing to train tailors and dressmakers in modern industry trends. He also said an amount of GH ¢984, 896 was awarded to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences to enhance its capacity to provide training in fish farming to the private sector and student. This he said had culminated in the formation of partnership between the University and Ainoo-Ansah Farms at Gomoa Okyereko to provide training in that direction In addition, he said the School of Agriculture, the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Conservation Biology and Entomology were engaged as service providers by COTVET to transfer modern skills and technology to the oil and gas and agriculture sectors of the economy. He expressed the hope that the University would take good care of the facility adding that “we believe the University being a centre of excellence will employ its good maintenance culture to ensure that the facilities and the equipment provided stood the test of time. The immediate past Minister for Education, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang said science has always recorded the highest number of students who study for remedial classes. She said UCC was determined to make great impact through teaching, learning and research work in science, “UCC is not poised for flight but in flight, “she added. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said she was looking forward to the demonstration of the glassblowing technology at the annual COTVET Exhibition. Giving the background of the Glass Blowing Unit, the Director of Research Innovation and Consultancy, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim said the idea to refurbish the Unit was conceived during tenure of Prof. Opoku-Agyemang as Vice-Chancellor in 2011. However, he explained that in 2013, COTVET accepted a proposal from UCC to fund the refurbishment of the Unit and the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole led a team from UCC to sign a contract in the same year at the Ministry of Education. He said the Unit was poised to produce high quality glassware for Universities, Senior High Schools, Health Facilities. Prof. Annim commended the current Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah and the two former Vice-Chancellors for their respective roles in making the Glassblowing Unit project a reality. He also expressed gratitude to the Ministries of Health and Education; Ghana Association of Science Teachers (GAST) and the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) for their support. The Dean of the School of Physical Sciences, Prof. Kofi Essuman said the Unit was capable of producing 5, 000 pipette and 10, 000 test tubes a month. He said the glass ware produced by the Unit was conducive for the African Climate unlike those which normally suit temperatures found in that region. Prof. Essuman made a passionate appeal for the revamping of the Aboso Glass Factory to reduce the importation of raw materials for the manufacturing of the glassware.

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