A team from the Department of Optometry has conducted eye screening exercise for teachers and pupils of the Salvation Army School for the deaf at Swedru in the Central Region, as part of their outreach programme.

The team also presented spectacles to those whose eyes were examined during the exercise. The team which was led by Head of Department, Prof. (Mrs.) Nathalie G. Mensah included Dr. Emmanuel Kwasi Abu, Dr. Samuel Kyei and Dr. Samuel Abokyi as well as some final year Optometry students.

Speaking at the programme, Prof. Mensah said the department was not only committed to training students to become competent Optometrists but also inculcating in them compassion for the vulnerable in society. She said the department identified the school for the screening exercise due to the special needs of the pupils.

Prof. Mensah thanked the Optical Foundation for donating spectacles for the exercise. She noted that the Department of Optometry has received various forms of assistance from the Foundation through capacity building as well as donation of spectacles and other equipment. She also expressed gratitude to the School of Agriculture for providing a bus to convey the team to Swedru.

The headteacher of the School, Mrs. Favour Aflakpui, was full of praise for the team for traveling from Cape Coast to assist them adding that “We are really touched by what you have done for this school and it is my hope that this exercise will be continued every year.”  She indicated that apart from the deaf pupils, there were other pupils with multiple disability and therefore appealed to other institutions to emulate the good example of the University of Cape Coast.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole has called for the abolition of the Power ministry and advocated the setting up of a technical committee to solve the recurring energy crisis in the country. “If we do away with the Ministry of Power and rely on the technical people, we can solve the problem”.   These sentiments were expressed when the Vice-Chancellor chaired the 2nd Expert Forum organized by the UCC branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG). The forum is held to provide a platform for a non-partisan and multidisplinary discussion of relevant global, national and local issues that will influence policy at those levels. The 2016 edition of the Expert Forum was on the theme “Sustainable and Integrative Approach to Solving the Perennial Energy Crisis: Issues of Production and Alternative Sources, Distribution and Consumption”.   Prof. Kuupole said Ghanaians must be told the actual situation on the ground regarding the country’s energy requirements as to what is available and how much was needed. “We need to know the mismatch currently, I mean someone should tell us the truth”, he emphasized.   He commended UTAG, UCC for organizing the forum and encouraged them to hold more of such fora “since universities are set up to generate ideas and proffer solutions to problems”.   Delivering the first presentation on the topic Re-Engineering Sustainable Energy Production for National Development, former Chief Executive Officer, Volta River Authority, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, asked that professionals should be allowed to come up with solutions to the numerous energy problems in the country and politicians must also see to the implementation of the solutions. “Those who have the knowledge about the subject must be allowed to work for the solutions, all the politicians have to do is to listen and commit themselves to the implementation”.   Dr. Wereko-Brobby indicated that there was no one solution to all energy problems adding, “we cannot use today’s solution for tomorrow’s problems”. He said, rather it was the mix of technology that matters since consumers want a technology that will deliver at the least cost.   Speaking on the topic “Effective and Efficient Energy Distribution”, an Energy Expert from the African Centre for Energy Policy, Dr. Ishmael Ackah, called for the reduction of losses since each year an amount of $100 million is lost through distribution by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Dr. Ackah also indicated that there were a lot of losses that come as a result of street lighting system. “Until the inefficiencies by E. C. G are addressed it becomes extremely difficult to tell people to pay more tariffs.” The Energy Expert recommended that government must take immediate steps to pay up debts owed E. C. G, to enable the company also clear its indebtedness to power producers.   Dr. Ackah called for the Northern Electricity Development Company and ECG to be merged for investment through listing on the stock exchange. Again, he said, E. C. G staff who connived with customers to steal power should be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.  

The University of Cape Coast has entered into official relationship with Christ The Teacher College of Education (CTTCoE), Kumasi through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU). With the signing of the MoU, UCC becomes a mentor institution to CTTCoE, a private College of Education. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole, said it was an honour on the part of UCC to be working with CTTCoE as a mentee institution. “We need to step back and relook at how things can be done right since we cannot live in the past”, he noted. Prof. Kuupole stated that CTTCoE was the first College of Education to have signed an MoU with UCC, adding, “the MoU forms part of affiliation requirement of the National Accreditation Board (NAB)”. He assured CTTCoE that UCC would nurture them to become an enviable academic institution in the country. Responding, the Principal of CTTCoE, Rev. Louis Tuffour expressed delight that their relationship with UCC has been formalised. He asked for continuous support from UCC for the growth of their young college.    

Three members of staff from the University of Bordeaux, France have called on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole at his residence. The team was at the University to find possible means of collaboration with some faculty and departments of the University. The team  was led by Ana-Marie included Beatrice Boyer, and Jean Christophe Lapouble.     Ana-Marie said they had fruitful and far-reaching discussions with the Department of French, UCC to set the ball rolling for an effective relationship between the two institutions.   Responding, the Vice-Chancellor stated that, he was particularly happy that a team from Bordeaux had come to seek international partnership with the University for both student and faculty exchange as well as research. He indicated that research was the bedrock upon which any university can thrive. “A university that does not engage in research can not survive, meaning no research no university”. Present at the meeting were the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro; Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan and Head, Department of French, Dr. Edem Bakah