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Higher Education Should Foster a Better Understanding of Democracy, Kofi Annan Calls University Leaders

30 Jul, 2016 By louis Mensah

The former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Busumuru Kofi Annan has called on university leaders to ensure that higher education helps foster a better understanding of the benefits and responsibilities of democracy in their respective countries.

He underscored the crucial role of higher education in promoting democracy through peace and security, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law.

Mr. Annan made the call when he delivered the keynote address at a three-day Conference of the Association of Commonwealth Universities held at the Accra International Conference Centre in Accra. The biannual conference which was hosted by Vice-Chancellors Ghana (VCG), was on the theme “Defining the Responsible University: Society, Impact and Growth.”  The conference brought together more than 400 higher education experts from 35 countries to deliberate on the theme.

The Minister for Education, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang who read a statement read on behalf of the President of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, recommended a continuous dialogue between institutions of higher education and industry to contribute to global efforts aimed at addressing the socio-economic development challenges. He noted that the time has come for institutions of higher education to produce the required skilled labour for the job market.  

President Mahama observed that “What has been established is a seemingly disconnection between the graduates in terms of acquired skills and what the employers are looking for.”  He further noted that “We need to more importantly also interrogate the earlier principles on which our universities were established to make a better forecast of what society expects of the institution of higher education towards national and international development.”

The three-day conference engaged participants in discussions focusing on the impact of universities on innovation, research and development, civil society, funding and access, employment, and the role and place of government and the corporate sector in building the skilled leaders of tomorrow.

In his remarks at the function, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Prof. D. D. Kuupole, entreated participants to share ideas that would reposition higher education to promote socio-economic development. He encouraged participants from outside the country to use their leisure periods to visit some tourist attractions in the Greater Accra and the Central Regions of Ghana.

that would redefine the responsibilities of higher education institutions in socio-economic development.

 

Moral Leadership is the Most Pressing Need of Society

30 Jul, 2016 By louis Mensah

Former President of Malawi, Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda has said that the most pressing need of society today is good moral leadership.

According her, the general public no longer has faith in their leaders. “This is because leaders who occupy political positions use their political offices and positions to plunder the wealth of their countries for their personal self-enrichment rather than using national resources to promote the well being of their people, they”, she said.

It is for this reason that she has called for a new kind of leadership in Africa, the one that Prof. Mills exhibited. “Moral and servant leadership is what Africa needs and Prof. Mills represents and embodiment of such type of leadership”, Madam Banda said.

Dr. Banda spoke on the topic: Leadership Redefined; Moral and Ethical Leadership, A Must; The Case of President John Evans Atta Mills-The Servant Leader at a Commemorative lecture in honour of the late President of Ghana at the University of Cape Coast.  She described leadership as an emotional phenomenon founded and built on mutuality, common good and shared vision between the leader and the people. She said leaders appealed to the people they lead and the people appealed to the emotions of the leader. “Leadership is a love affair. You fall in love with the people you serve and the people fall in love with you”.

Explaining further, Dr. Banda intimated that leadership hinged on the principle and realisation that power and authority were exercised at the pleasure of those that put them in position of authority. Again, Madam Banda reminded leaders that they were occupying positions because people put them there so that they could serve them. Therefore, as leaders they must have integrity and strength of character to put the needs and concerns of others ahead of their own. “The welfare of the people that gave you the mandate to exercise power over them prevails and becomes your guiding principles and driving force”, she added.

The former Malawian president urged leaders to be selfless in their desire to ensure the success of others, fearless in their zeal to protect the dignity of others, and relentless in their defense of the rights of the people. Espousing on the current evolution of leadership globally, Dr. Banda said “globally leadership is being redefined with a shift of power from the top to the masses”. “We are witnessing shifting of power from monarchies to presidents; from dictators to Democrats; from rulers to leaders. We are all witnessing power shifts from “me” to “us”. Yes the world bears witness as power shifts from leaders to masses as demonstrated during the Arab spring”.

She said the shifting of power from leaders to masses cannot be ignored since it signalled the coming of new world order in terms of leadership and people power and described it as a paradigm shift that called for necessary changes in leadership. “As leaders the earlier we accept this reality the better, lest we risk being left behind or face the full blunt of the people’s power. As leaders, the earlier we realise and fully accept that the days of authoritative leadership are long gone, the better”, she admonished.                    

On the canker of political corruption in Africa, Mrs. Banda indicated that it was as a result of the failure to embrace the principles and tenets of moral and servant leadership and has remained one huge impediment to socio-economic development on the continent.

Mrs. Banda said instead of being part of the solution, African leaders have become enablers of corruption, fraud and all sorts of vices. “They have become part of the problem for communities and not a solution to the many problems communities are grappling with especially corruption, abuse of human rights and tribalism or ethnicity”, she lamented.

Speaking on the virtues of the President, Madam Banda said President Mills lived a humble life of the community; he lived a life of love. He was also not only the son of Ghana, he was a citizen of the world who gave his life to the development of education as demonstrated by his contribution to academia all over the world. His contribution to intellectual development was remarkable”.

“The life of President Atta Mills was the embodiment of dedication to public service and to the people of Ghana”.

                                                          

30 Jul, 2016

STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW VICE-CHANCELLOR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST

It is announced for the information of the university community and the general public that at its special meeting held on Saturday, 30th July, 2016, the University Council appointed Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, current Provost of the College of Education Studies as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast

Prof Ghartey Ampiah will take over from the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole at the end Prof Kuupole’s term of office.

Signed

John Kofi Nyan

REGISTRAR AND SECRETARY TO COUNCIL

30TH JULY 2016

STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW VICE-CHANCELLOR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST

30 Jul, 2016 By louis Mensah

It is announced for the information of the university community and the general public that at its special meeting held on Saturday, 30th July, 2016, the University Council appointed Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, current Provost of the College of Education Studies as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast.

Prof Ghartey Ampiah will take over from the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole at the end of Prof Kuupole's term of office.

Signed

(John Kofi Nyan)

(REGISTRAR AND SECRETARY TO COUNCIL)

30TH JULY 2016

28 Jul, 2016

The Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD) is planning a workshop for all Female Senior Members, Academic at the University of Cape Coast. This platform is aimed at enhancing publication capacities of Female Lecturers. The proposed period for the workshop is from 10th to 12th August, 2016. 

Female Senior Member  should kindly find attached a copy of Participant's Expression of Interest Form to be completed and returned to cegrad@ucc.edu.gh

For more information, please call 0332-092256, 020-5383415.
 

Vice-Chancellor Receives Report on UTAG Matters

26 Jul, 2016 By louis Mensah

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof D. D. Kuupole, on behalf of the University Council has received a report of the Committee set up to address issues of the University of Cape Coast Branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).

Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. K. Yankson indicated that the Committee was to consider grievances regarding the appointment, promotion and elevation of some academic senior members which UTAG considered to be at variance with the Statutes of the University.

 According to Prof. Yankson, the Committee was to investigate the following issues, “whether the Statutes has been breached; to find out whether those elevated/upgraded to the rank of senior lecturers fall within the exceptional clause as captured under the specific schedule of the statutes; to iron out any misunderstanding or misrepresentation and to ensure that there is harmony between Management and UTAG”.

Prof. Yankson thanked the University of Cape Coast Council for the confidence reposed in the committee, which he said worked tirelessly to produce the report.

Receiving the report, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole expressed gratitude on behalf of the University Council and management for the good work by the committee. “Council will examine the content of the four-member committee’s report without delay to ensure speedy implementation of its recommendations,” he assured them.

The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that Council was irrevocably committed to finding lasting solution to the issues raised by UTAG members.

Other members of the Committee were, Dr. (Mrs.) R. E. M. Entsua Mensah, Council Member; Major (Rtd) Ben Donkor, Council Member, and Mr. Emmanuel Aidoo, Secretary to the Committee.

Present at the function were the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro and the Registrar, Mr. John K. Nyan.

UCC Gets Presidential Library

26 Jul, 2016 By louis Mensah

President John Mahama has inaugurated the John Evans Atta Mills Presidential Library in Cape Coast with a call on Ghanaians to be guided by the ideals of the late President as this year’s elections draw near.

“As we go for elections later in the year, may the life of Prof. restrain both our political discourses and actions”, he appealed.

The Presidential Library, which is affiliated to the University of Cape Coast, was built to immortalise the memory of the late President of Ghana, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills. It will make available to both researchers and the general public records, books and other materials for their use.

In a speech before the commissioning, the President said through a lot of facilities and monuments have been named after the late president but “nothing immortalises him better than naming this Library after him”. He described the late Prof. Mills as a man of faith, one who had a great sense of loyalty but would be best remembered as a president and a politician who never betrayed his friends and also minded his “own business”.

President Mahama indicated that the proximity of the library to the castle was symbolic with “the later signifying slavery and the former representing emancipation”. He urged the government and other officials to show a keen interest in the running of the facility in order to achieve the purpose for which it was established.

The Minister for Education, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, said the decision to site the presidential library in Cape Coast was without prejudice rather it was to prolong the legacy of the late president. She thanked all who contributed in diverse ways and means to turn the “Dreams of all conspirators of the project” into reality”.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. D. D. Kuupole in an address said there was evidence that elsewhere, Presidential Libraries have been quite successful in preserving papers of Presidents, and by so doing, place these materials under public ownership and control making them available for research.  Thus, as the first of its kind in the country to immortalise the name of late Prof. Mills, the edifice should not only serve as an educational and informational destination of choice but also complement the tourist attraction in the region.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the management of the library to intensify the outreach activities in order to make the facility relevant to society by not restricting it to researchers only, rather they should seek partnership with both national and international institutions through the programmes that they would put in place to attract scholars from within and outside the country. 

Construction of School of Graduate Studies Complex Begins

25 Jul, 2016 By louis Mensah

A ground breaking ceremony has been performed for the commencement of  work on a three-storey School of Graduate Studies building at the north campus of the University.

The project which is being executed by Casilda Company Limited is expected to be completed in 24 months and will provide office accommodation, library, resource centre, and seminar rooms among others to facilitate graduate work.

The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Ernest Laryea Okorley said it has been a long journey but the “good news is that we are beginning to see concrete efforts being made to achieve the ultimate goal”. He expressed the hope that the contractor would make good his promise to complete the project on schedule by ensuring judicious use of the resources available.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole commended those who contributed in diverse ways for the project to take- off and prayed that the funds available would be enough to see the entire project through. He said “graduate work is the hallmark of every university therefore the facility when completed would go a long way to achieve that goal.

Prof. added that the university would not compromise on the quality of work to be done since the profile of the contractors was taken into consideration before the award of the contract. He called for dedication of all connected to the project to ensure that nothing was done to forestall its progress.

2016 UNIVERSITY STAFF SOCCER COMPETITION

25 Jul, 2016 By Anonymous (not Verified)

The Directorate of University Health Services (DUHS) emerged the overall winners of this year’s University Staff soccer competition held at the University of Cape Coast Park. The DUHS won the overall trophy for the second time in the history of the competition.

The competition was organised by the Sports Section of the University of Cape Coast with support from the University Management and related stakeholders.

23 Jul, 2016

The Directorate of University Health Services in collaboration with Hoffman La Roche is organising HEPATITIS B and C Screening exercise for all Staff at the University Central Administration (SM, SS, JS) on TUESDAY, 26th JULY, 2016 at 8:00am - 2:00pm at the Central Administration Car Park.
 
For More Information:
Please tune in to ATL FM 100.5MHZ
Daily: 6:50am – 7:00am
Every Tuesday: 9:30am – 10:00am

Similar exercises would be organised for Staff of other Directorates, Colleges, and Sections of the University of Cape Coast subsequently.
 
Thank you.

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