The Sam Jonah Library of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has inaugurated a new

Knowledge Commons and Scholarly Communication Unit to enhance collaborative learning and

research amongst students, faculty, and the broader university community.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Chancellor of UCC, Dr. Sir Sam Esson Jonah, explained that a

library was an important organ of the university system that provided a lifeline for the academic

quality of any university. He noted that all over the world, traditional libraries were being

transformed into learning commons to make them more attractive and resourceful for the next

generation library users. He indicated that the Knowledge Commons and Scholarly

Communication Unit would contribute to the quality of research output, and increase the

visibility of the University of Cape Coast. He said, “the new Scholarly Communication Unit will

ensure that UCC journals are published and managed according to international standards”.

Dr. Sir. Jonah pointed out that there was a need for a national repository of the knowledge and

research output of Ghana to serve the intellectual and research needs of the country. He therefore

urged universities, research institutions, and industries to work together to develop innovative

ways of knowledge transfer for the country.

He also noted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities all over the world were adopting

innovative ways of teaching and research. He therefore urged the Management of the University

Library to consider developing their electronic library system to support electronic learning,

research, and publishing in addition to the modernization of the physical library.

The Chancellor commended University Management for their commitment and dedication in

accomplishing the initiative saying, “the Sam Jonah Library was on course to fulfilling its

mission of being a world-class library. Therefore, you have my highest assurance of my

continuous support for the University and the Sam Jonah Library.”

The Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong in his address, noted that the

University of Cape Coast envisions to become an entrepreneurial university with worldwide

acclaim. He explained that central to this, was the need to present students with limitless

opportunities to enhance and enable them to acquire 21 st Century core competencies and skills-

sets that will make them internationally and globally competitive. His expectation is that the new

Scholarly Communication Unit would develop set standards that would characterize scholarly

communications at UCC.

He pledged his support to the mandate of the Library saying, “With the University Management

under my leadership, I will continue to support the modernization and transformation agenda of

the Sam Jonah Library to position itself in becoming a world-class academic library.”

The Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, who chaired the

inauguration ceremony, indicated that University Management together with the Board of the

Sam Jonah Library, took the initiative to reorganize the library space into a vibrant,

collaborative, technology-driven learning environment. She explained that the establishment of

the UCC Knowledge Commons was a response to the Sam Jonah Library's commitment to

providing a technology-intensive space that will attract campus-wide collaborations instead of

departmental collaborations. “The unit would work closely with the editors of the university

journals, researchers, and publishers to ensure that research publications were of high quality.”,

she said.

The University Librarian, Dr. Mac-Anthony Cobblah, expressed gratitude to the Chancellor and

University Management for their support of the initiative. He explained that with the

establishment of the Knowledge Commons, students will have unrestricted and uninterrupted

access to electronic books, and electronic journal collections of the library including specialized

services.

The Knowledge Commons of the Sam Jonah Library is fully furnished with a sitting capacity of

150, and has group study rooms, a research support office, and 102 computer workstations which

are all connected to super high-speed internet.

Also present at the inauguration ceremony were Provosts of Colleges, Faculty, Staff, Students,

University Union Executives, Chiefs and Community Leaders.

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UCC), in collaboration with the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA-UCC), and the University of Cape Coast Health Services, has organized a week-long health screening programme for all Senior Members in the University. The programme was intended to form a medical opinion of the health status of UTAG and GAUA members.

The president of UTAG-UCC, Dr. Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi, explained that UTAG-UCC had observed that many Senior Members had hectic schedules, leaving them with limited time to avail themselves to thorough medical examinations at the University’s health facility. “We brought together a team to take their samples and run vital laboratory tests that will help our medical doctors to form an impression on each of our members”, he said.

Dr. Boadi-Kusi indicated that when the results of the laboratory tests are ready, members would be referred to doctors from both the UCC Hospital and the School of Medical Sciences for further discussion on their health status. “Based on the results, we expect that key interventions will be put in place to help prevent health conditions that are preventable and provide treatment for other ailments”, he noted.

He encouraged his colleagues to avail themselves and participate in the health screening initiative. He also called on University Management to support and collaborate with the Unions to hold the Health Screening programme yearly.

Dr. (Mrs.) Eunice Fay Amissah, Vice-President of UTAG-UCC, entreated all members to take advantage of the exercise to know their health status. She said the health screenings included lipid profiling, full blood count, liver and kidney function tests, breast screening, pap test for women, and prostrate test for men.

In an interview with Mr. Eric Agyenim-Boateng, an Accountant at the Directorate of Finance, he said, “I have not taken these tests since last year, but today, I received some education regarding my health and I would like to see the University take up this initiative and have it conducted more often”.