The Department of Ghanaian Languages and Linguistics, on Monday, 23rd November, 2015, held a Departmental Durbar at the Faculty of Arts Conference room for its staff and students. The Departmental Durbar is a semester-based program organized to bring all lecturers, research assistants, demonstrators and students together to share ideas on the way forward for the Department. This semester's durbar created a forum where students voiced their grievances, and responses and advice were given accordingly. This platform also offered lecturers the opportunity to remind students of course registration and examination related issues. The Head of Department, Dr. Moses K. Kambou, who welcomed the students to the gathering outlined some programs the department was putting in place to help students achieve their objective in the university. He explained that the department is liaising with some media outlets in the country to make it possible for students to have internships with those institutions. He also indicated that the department has started its outreach programs that enable students to study language phenomena and also collect data for various researches. He, however, advised that students make it a point to visit the department regularly in order to have first-hand information on programs being undertaken. On his part, Mr. Emmanuel Asubonteng, Department Examination Officer doubled as the Registration Officer when he read the rules governing registration and examination to students.  On registration, he indicated that he was surprised some students managed to register courses that were not mount. He, therefore, advised that students should always check from the department’s noticeboard for courses to be registered in a particular semester before going ahead to register. With examination related issues, he audibly read and explained the rules governing examination in the university. He was, however, expressed worry that Level 100 students who were to be fed with the rigorous nature of going contrary to the examination rules were virtually absent at the meeting. On advice, the Head of Department, Dr. Kambou, gave senior members the opportunity to offer words of wisdom to the students. Mr. Peter Alexander Hope, on his part quoted Matthew 6:33 as the basis of his advice. He asked students to focus on their books and shun the frequent use of whatsapp, facebook and all unscrupulous relationships. He added by quoting the famous saying “there is more sleep after death.” Dr. (Mrs.) Cecilia Kotey advised that students should show concern to each other’s academic progress. She pointed out that the continuous assessment of students as of this time that the semester was ending was nothing good to write home about, and this is because students fail to seek assistance from colleagues or lecturers when they do not understand what was taught. She ended by emphasizing that they “wish for all students to get grade A and not D.” Dr. Kambou reiterated that “it is those who do not know who are in the University to learn and hence pay school fees, and not those who know.” He also tasked students to seek assistance from lecturers, research assistants and demonstrator in order to fulfill the confidence the university repose in them during admission. Miss. Comfort Asante, the research coordinator of the Department, on her part asked level 400 students who could not modify their project topics to do so with their respective supervisors. The Head of Department also added that all students who are to write terms papers are to submit them at the examination centres at the time for which that paper is written.Students were then given the platform to ask any question that bothered them. Senior Members addressed all questions and wished the students well in their impending examination.     

The University of Cape Coast is hosting a two-day Regional Leadership training for female academics and staff in Higher Education Institutions in West African Sub-region. The workshop is being organised by the RETRIDAL-National Open University of Nigeria and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL). Opening the workshop, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast who was represented by the Provost of the College of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof. Harold S. Amonoo-Kuofi observed that African women were now beginning to enjoy greater recognition by taking up leadership positions on the continent and in the West African Sub-region. He noted that through leadership training women could acquire leadership skills and be made more effective and more relevant wherever they find themselves especially in various sectors of the economy. Prof. Kuupole said the workshop was very timely especially at a time when a number of tertiary institutions in West Africa were facing leadership challenges. He attributed these challenges to leadership style on the part of those in the helm of affairs that has continued to plague educational sector for quite some time now.  He therefore indicated that the solution to this crises was to give proper leadership skills to Senior University Academic and Administrative staff through such capacity building workshops. He congratulated the 36 female academics and staff for being selected from institutions of higher learning in the West African Sub-region. In his welcome remarks at the workshop, the Vice-Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe noted that the workshop was special because womenfolk were rarely given the pride of place which they rightfully deserve by society in an African setting. He noted that there should be an investment in women because they are dependable human resources and true allies of the men folk at all times. Prof. Tenebe expressed the belief that boosting women’s productivity at the workplace should be considered a priority and as such pursued with vigour stressing that “For the simple reason that women should embrace the can do spirit anywhere that they may find themselves.”  He also indicated that participants at the workshop would be able to demonstrate awareness of the challenges facing women academics in competitive local and global contexts and also benefit from the experiences of women in positions of academic and community leadership. He added that the workshop should help participants to demonstrate better understanding of the changing roles of leadership for women in higher education in West African Sub-region. The Provost of the College of Distance Education, UCC, Prof. George K. T. Oduro who also spoke at the programme said the college was excited to host the workshop in their premises. He wished them a fruitful deliberation and assured them of the support of the College and the University in general.  

The National Executives of FUSSAG have paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. D. D. Kuupole to discuss pertinent issues about the union.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the National Chairman of FUSSAG, Mr. Atimbila Baba said their visit was meant to congratulate the Vice-Chancellor on his new appointment as the Chairman of the Vice-Chancellors Ghana.

The General Secretary, Mr. Jacob Emmanuel Eshun took the opportunity to brief the Vice-Chancellor on some pressing issues of the Union which needed to be considered by Vice-Chancellors Ghana (VCG). The issues raised for consideration were FUSSAG representation on universities council; boards/committees, and conditions of service for FUSSAG among other things.                     

The Vice-Chancellor, warmly welcomed the FUSSAG delegation and assured them of the commitment of his office to support the union. The Vice-Chancellor said, ‘We can only succeed if we work together’. He indicated that some universities have made progress by including FUSSAG representatives on some boards and committees and was hopeful that other universities would follow suit.                    

He noted that management was happy at rate FUSSAG members were pursuing further studies, but was quick to add that the only problem was that some of them fail to notify management before they proceed on study. He also commended leadership of FUSSAG for their instrumental role in ensuring uninterrupted academic calendar in the various campuses. 

The FUSSAG delegation were received by the Registrar, Mr. John K. Nyan; Director of Finance, Mrs. Elizabeth Obese; Executive Secretary, Vice-Chancellors Ghana, Mr. Peter Adahiwe Kaba and Public Relation Officer, Major (Rtd) Kofi Baah Bentum.

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