The new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong and the Registrar, Mr. Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame, have embarked on the second leg of their tour to Directorates and Colleges in the University.
The visit this time took them to the Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance (DAPQA), Directorate of Research Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC), Directorate of University Health Services (DUHS), Centre for International Education (CIE), College of Education Studies (CES) and the College of Humanities and Legal Studies (CHLS).
The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar were accompanied by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh.
DAPQA
The first point of call was at DAPQA, where the team interacted with the Director, Prof. Godwin Awabil, and his sectional heads. Explaining the purpose of the visit, Prof. Edu-Buandoh said the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar were there to show appreciation to the director and his team for supporting them at their investiture. He said the visit was also to formally inform them that they had assumed office.
Prof. Boampong called for unity and a sense of purpose among members of the University Community to develop the UCC as a first class university in Ghana and beyond. “With unity we can achieve a lot together but we cannot succeed when we are divided” he noted. The Vice-Chancellor therefore, asked the Director and his team to support him to achieve his vision of transforming UCC into an Entrepreneurial University.
The Vice-Chancellor indicated that past Vice-Chancellors, Pro Vice-Chancellors, and Registrars had done their part to the growth of the University and it was now their turn to build on what they started. “We also need to take this University to another level and create opportunities for the younger generation,” he added.
Adding his voice to the Vice-Chancellor’s, Mr. Onyame indicated that they would operate an inclusive administration without discrimination. “We will give opportunity to everybody to contribute towards realising the goals and objectives of this University,” he stressed.
Responding, Prof. Awabil commended the Vice-Chancellor for his vision and the innovative ideas he wanted to implement in the University adding “Your vision is full of innovative ideas that will transform the University if we fully implement it”. Prof. Awabil assured the Vice-Chancellor of his support.
DRIC
The team moved to DRIC to interact with the Director, Prof. Frederick Ato-Armah. The Vice-Chancellor said the Directorate featured prominently in his vision and urged them to work as a team to reposition UCC through high impact research. He reechoed the need to understand each other, work as a team to achieve the vision. “We can achieve a lot when we are united. Let’s be focused and together we shall get there,” he noted.
In response, Prof. Ato-Armah pledged his total and unflinching support and indicated that some discussions were ongoing to reposition UCC as a flagship entrepreneur institution. He said there was no doubt that the new leadership was committed to develop UCC as a first class international university. “We are looking forward to a long lasting and fruitful working relationship with the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar,” he noted.
DUHS
From DRIC, the team met with the Director of University Health Services, Dr. Evans Ekanem and some of his Management team. The Vice-Chancellor thanked him and the Directorate for the services they were rendering to the University community even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged them to continue with their meritorious services to the University community and the general public.
Reacting, Dr. Ekanem said the Vice-Chancellor’s vision was timely and it was a step in the right direction. He wished the new Vice-Chancellor and Registrar God’s blessings and assured of his unwavering support. He used the opportunity to thank Management for the assistance they had provided to the directorate in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CIE
The team later interacted with the Dean of the Centre for International Education (CIE), Prof. Kwaku Adutwum A. Boakye. The Vice-Chancellor said he had interacted on several occasions with the office whilst he was Provost. He said the internationalisation of the University was a prominent feature of his vision. “We intend to enhance the visibility of the University by promoting internationalization” he noted.
Prof. Boakye in his response said he was humbled by the visit and added that he was confident that the international agenda of the University would be moved to a higher level. “We have taken your assurance of support with pride and we would give our utmost support to achieve this noble objective,” he assured.
CES
The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar also interacted with the Provost of the College of Education, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis and some Deans in the College. The Vice-Chancellor said it was important for staff of the University to work as a team with a common goal. He said under his leadership, everybody would be playing a role in the management of the University “We are presenting ourselves as servant leaders because we know that we cannot do it all so we need you to help us accomplish our vision for the University,” he explain.
Prof. Davis on his part was grateful to the Vice-Chancellor for the visit and remarked that there was unity in strength adding that “Aggregate strength is so powerful that it can surmount every challenge.” He declared that the College would contribute its quota towards achieving his vision for the University.
CHLS
The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar ended their tour at the College of Humanities and Legal Studies (CHLS) and interacted with the Provost, Prof. Eric Francis Amuquandoh and some Deans and Heads of Department. The Vice-Chancellor stressed that there was unity in diversity and, therefore, it was important that they worked as a team to develop the University to an international standard. “We have to be united and work together to reposition our university so that we can all feel proud of legacy we have left for the future generation,” he urged.
On his part, the Provost of CHLS, Prof. Amuquandoh noted that the College would rally behind them to ensure that the vision of the Vice-Chancellor was achieved. He said departments and faculties formed very important constituencies for the University and that he could count on them at all times. “Though we are in difficult times and things are not normal but if we remain together we’ll succeed as a University,” he concluded.
