The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has presented 50 cartons of Usplash, UCC’s branded mineral water, and a cheque for GHS 10,000 to the Oguaa Traditional Council.
The Head of the Public Relations and Protocol Section of the Directorate of Public Affairs-UCC, Mr. Felix Adu-Poku, who made the presentation on behalf of the University, said the gesture was to support the Council towards the celebration of this year’s Oguaa Fetu Afahye celebrated by the people of Cape Coast.
According to him, It was also to further deepen the existing relationship between the Oguaa Traditional Council and the University.
The Paramount Queenmother of Oguaa, Nana Akua Abookye VI, being presented with a cheque by Head of PR/P-UCC, Mr. Felix Adu-Poku
Mr. Adu-Poku added that UCC, through its Campus Broadcasting Services (ATL FM) since 2016, had been partnering the Council to organise the Fetu Afahye Regatta, which remains one of the key activities heralding the lifting of the ban on fishing in the Fosu lagoon.
He observed that the Regatta was part of efforts to support the local fishing industry and to promote unity among the various Asafo companies in Cape Coast.
On behalf of the University’s Management, Mr. Adu-Poku commended the Council for its invaluable support to the University and wished them fruitful Fetu Afahye celebrations.
Mawerehen of Oguaa Traditional Area, Nana Kweku Enu II, extending appreciation to UCC after receiving the donation
For his part, the Mawerehen of Oguaa Traditional Area, Nana Kweku Enu II, who received the items and the cheque on behalf of the Council and the Fetu Afahye Planning Committee, expressed gratitude to UCC for the support.
" We will always remember the University in our prayers for its growth and expansion to continue to support us and others towards manpower development of the country," he noted.
The Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies (CHLS) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, has expressed delight at the appointment of Prof. Kwaku Adutwum Ayim Boakye, as the Vice-Chancellor of Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU).
Prof. Kwarteng said until Prof. Boakye’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor of CCTU, he had distinguished himself in his service to the prestigious University of Cape Coast over the years hence, his leadership skills were not in doubt.
He, therefore, expressed confidence in the ability of Prof. Kwaku Adutwum Ayim Boakye, to lead the Cape Coast Technical University to greater heights.
Prof. Kwarteng made the remarks when he led a delegation from the College to pay a courtesy call to the new Vice-Chancellor, who assumed office on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
The Provost expressed the hope that Prof. Boakye, who was with CHLS-UCC until his appointment, would continue to proudly hold the flag of UCC aloft in all his endeavours in his elevated position.
He implored the Vice-Chancellor to be guided by the axiom, "Brighten the corner where you are" to reposition CCTU in an enviable status among tertiary institutions in the country.
The Provost urged Prof. Boakye to draw from the milk of human kindness in him and graciously work in unison with staff of the CCTU to leave an indelible mark after his tenure.
For his part, Prof. Boakye thanked Prof. Kwarteng and his accompanying delegation for the visit and promised to work hard in his current role so as not to bring the name of UCC into disrepute.
He said he would bring his 22 years wealth of experience in academia to bear on the development of CCTU and asked for the support of the delegation to achieve his vision.
Prof. Boakye, who was the Dean of the Office of International Relations at UCC, gave assurance to work in harmony with staff of CCTU.
Accompanying the Provost of CHLS-UCC were Prof. Kwabena Sarfo Sarfo-Kantanka, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts; Prof. John Gatsi, Dean of the School of Business; Prof. Angela Arkosu, Dean of the School for Development Studies, and Dr. Mary Obimpeh, College Registrar for College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.
The Provost and his accompanying delegation took advantage of the visit and toured the Automative Repair Engineering Workshop at CCTU.
Present at the meeting from CCTU were Dr. Francis Narh- Akrono, Registrar for CCTU; Dr. Patrick Arthur, PRO for CCTU; Mr. Paul Akyin-Mensah, a staffer at the Vice-Chancellor's Office and Mrs. Gyimima Adjei - Attah, from the Public Affairs Directorate.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC
The Vice-Chancellor,Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, has showered encomium on students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) for acquitting themselves admirably on campus devoid of agitations.
According to him, the exemplary behaviour by the students lent credence to the feat chalked up by the university as the topmost ranked in Ghana and West Africa.
“I will say our students are well-behaved among all students in the country. So far campus has been so peaceful. So if today UCC is the top ranked university in Ghana and West Africa and fourth in Africa, we could not have achieved this feat if we have not gotten the support of the students,” said the visibly elated Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. Boampong gave the commendations during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected executives of the Students; Representative Council (SRC), UCC Local Chapter of National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) and the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG-UCC) held at the Academic Board Chamber.
Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, the Vice-Chancellor, and some top university officials with executives of SRC and GRASAG.
While congratulating the new executives on their election and inauguration, he promised to keep an open door policy to address the concerns of students to ensure harmonious relationship between management and student leadership.
Prof. Boampong assured the new leadership of the support of his office to ensure their term in office was a success.
The Vice-Chancellor appealed to the new elected officers to support the executive management of the University to put up a new hostel on campus to solve the perennial challenges students face with securing accomodation.
The seven-member executive of the SRC comprised the President, Vincent Kojo Siabi; Vice-President Gertrude Addo; General Secretary, Esther Obeng;SRC Co-odinating Secretary, Franklina Yarkey; Treasurer, Anthony Yeboah; Women’s Commissioner, Hawa Awudu, and Public Relations Officer, Abdulai Issifu.
Mr. Jeff Teye Onyame - Registrar
The new officers took the oath of office administered by the Registrar, Mr. Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame.
The SRC President, Mr. Vincent Kojo Siabi, in his inaugural speech, expressed appreciation to the students for the confidence and trust reposed in him.
Vincent Kojo Siabi - SRC President
He congratulated the immediate past executives led by Latif Lawrence Jorhowie, for their hardwork.
Mr. Siabi gave assurance to continue the uncompleted works of the old administration to improve the quality of life of students and asked for the support of all to succeed in his tenure.
At the ceremony, the executives of the Graduate Students Association of Ghana of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) Chapter (GRASAG-UCC) were sworn into office.
They were: President, Kwabena Agyepong; Vice-President, Miriam Frimpong; Secretary, Eugenia Afi Opare ; Treasurer, Christmal George Kpodo; Organiser, Dominic Kabutey; Financial Secretary, Alfred Andoh ; Public Relations Officer, Linus Mensah-Monnie and Women’s Commissioner, Frederica Ozoki, were the newly sworn executives.
Mr. Kwabena Agyepong,for his part, pledged to justify the trust placed in him and worked to promote the welfare of postgraduate students during his tenure.
Mr. Kwabena Agyepong- GRASAG-UCC President
The 1979/82 Year Group of the University Primary School has made a historic visit to interact with management, teachers and learners of the School.
The home coming event afforded the Year Group the chance to join the learners who were clad in their neatly pressed uniforms at the morning parade to march with precision and pride, amidst patriotic songs.
Resplendent in white shirts emblazoned with the inscription ” Unipri Alumni 79-82, Back to give back,” the past students used the occasion to present sporting equipment to the School.
Some past students marching to class
During the event, the schoolchildren recited poems, sang various songs and had choreography displays.
They also danced to different Ghanaian music to the delight of the old students.
Addressing management, teachers and learners, the President of the Group, Mr. Robert Acquah, said their visit was to show gratitude and appreciation to the School that once nurtured them.
He advised the learners to make the best use of their time in the School which had some of the best teachers in the country to help them to excel academically.
Mr. Acquah reminded teachers that their roles had come to include social issues classrooms, and so they should make adjustments to ensure that their actions contribute towards the welfare and total wellbeing of students in their care.
Mr. Robert Acquah speaking at the event
The President assured management of the school that the Group would visit the school regularly to enquire about the performance of the schoolchildren so that they would be able to assist them to improve on their academic performance.
He assured management that they would continue to assist their alma mater in various ways to achieve its mandate.
Mr. Acquah hinted that the group would soon embark on other important projects in the School.
In her remark, the Headteacher of the School, Mrs. Georgina Aglobitse, expressed appreciation for the gesture and asked other year groups to come back and help their alma mater.
Mrs. Georgina Aglobitse
The Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West, Madam Gizela Tetteh, who is also a past student, encouraged the schoolchildren to develop the habit of reading to help broaden their knowledge and horizons.
That, she indicated, would help them build a wide vocabulary so that they can read and write well and perform brilliantly in school.
Madam Gizela Tetteh
Prizes were presented to deserving students and teachers who had contributed immensely to the development of the school.
The Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) has held Research Excellence for staff and students of the University at the School of Graduate Studies Auditorium.
The guest speaker, Prof. Isaac Luginaah, a distinguished professor and an alumnus of University of Cape Coast and Western University, Canada spoke on the topic “Building Research Excellence Career/Institutions in the 21st Century: The Importance of Quality and Benchmarking.”
Prof. Luginaah who has made field-defining theoretical and methodological contributions, addressing impacts of environmental hazards and vulnerabilities in population health, led the participants through the principles and importance of benchmarking, as well as some emerging contemporary issues.
Quoting Hammer and Stranton 1995, he explained that “benchmarking is the systemic process of searching for best practices, innovative ideas and highly effective operating procedures that lead to superior performance”.
“Benchmarking enables the identification of processes needing improvement, improvement of didactic, research, financial and administrative processes and a better adaptation of didactics and research to market demand. Benchmarking is the secret to success,” he added.
Professor Luginaah, raised concerns on the scholarly focus on impact factor rankings of journals rather than focusing on research findings.
Prof. Luginaah delivering a lecture
He criticised journal impact factors of been skewed adding that they could be manipulated and lack transparency.
However, the distinguished professor admitted that in recent times, impact factor had become one of the gold standards of measuring research quality.
He noted that there was a pressing need to improve the ways in which the output of scientific research was evaluated by funding agencies, academic institutions, and other parties.
Prof. Luginaah recommended that institutions should be explicit about their hiring criteria and that assessments should be based on scientific content rather than on only publication metrics.
He further encouraged the individual scholars to set their own quality and benchmarks which were based on practice and contextually relevant.
To that end, he challenged universities in Ghana to re-think the high in-breeding thus recruiting their own products as faculty and staff since it could stifle creativity and innovation.
Prof. Luginaah mentioned direct emulation and inappropriate context as some of the risk of benchmarking.
According to Prof. Luginaah despite the challenges of benchmarking, if done right, could advance scientific knowledge, nurture intellectual curiosity, foster collaboration and networking, cause cross-pollination of ideas, build supportive networks and facilities and facilitate continuous improvement and innovations.
Prof. Doku giving his closing remarks.
The Director of DRIC, Prof. David Teye Doku, remarked that benchmarking would help in monitoring quality and increase productivity.
He emphasised that the University coyld increase productivity by paying attention to benchmarking.
Participants of the lecture
