The Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh has paid familiarization visits to Directorates of Finance, Internal Audit and Academic Affairs. The purpose of the visits was to formally introduce herself to the leaderships of the directorates as the new Pro Vice-Chancellor. She took office on the 1st of January this year. The Pro Vice-Chancellor, who was accompanied by the Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Jeff T. Onyame, Acting Director of Public Affairs, Major Kofi Baah-Bentum (Rtd.); Snr. Assistant Registrar, Directorate of Human Resources, Mr. Isaac E. Nyieku and Assistant Registrar Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Nasir Y. Entsie, first point of call was the Directorate of Finance where they were received by the Director, Mrs. Elizabeth Obese in the company of the various heads of sections. Receiving the Pro Vice-Chancellor and her delegation, Mrs. Obese said they were elated to receive the new PVC to the directorate and said they would work hard to assist her in the discharge of her duties. “We promise to discharge our duties to the best of our abilities and integrity. We also pledge our unflinching support to your administration and will assist you to achieve the needed results”, she said. Responding, the Pro Vice-Chancellor noted that, she was confident that the already established cordial relationship between her and the directorate would continue as she assumed her new position. Prof. Edu-Buandoh thanked them for their assurance to support her in her new role in management. At the Directorate of Internal Audit, the Pro Vice-Chancellor said she was hopeful that, she would be accorded the same support if not better as she had at previous positions. She was grateful for the warm reception accorded her and the delegation. In his remarks, the director, Mr. Emmanuel P. Owusu congratulated the Pro Vice-Chancellor on her new appointment and added that it had always been wonderful working with the her. He hoped the relationship could get better as she undertook her new role as the Pro Vice-Chancellor and assured that he and his team would support her to succeed in her new endeavor. “We pledge our support to you as the Pro Vice-Chancellor so that together we move the University forward”, he added. The next stop was at the Directorate of Academic Affairs where the Director, Mr. Jeff Onyame said they were happy to receive her, since the PVC is in charge of academic matters in the University. Mr. Onyame said they had to work together since the entire business was a collaborative one. “Everyone is important in the scheme of things of the institution. The one who brings students, the one who receives the money, the one who audits and the one who prepares the place for the student to feel comfortable are all important”, he noted. He said they knew they would enjoy working with her as they had done in the past. Prof. Edu-Buandoh responded that, Academics was the lifeline of the University without which, there would be no University. She indicated that, they had always worked closely together and did not envisage how this would change and called for a stronger working relationship to make things better. She said she would call on them for direction and assistance whenever the need arose. The Pro Vice-Chancellor has also visited the Printing Press, Transport Section, Fire Service Unit, Directorate of Physical Development and Estate Section and the Security Section.

The University of Cape Coast has hosted and won the Eighth Mini Ghana University Sports Association Games.

UCC won the games with 20 gold 12 silver and 6 bronze medals. The University for Development Studies placed second position with 13 gold 11 silver and 13 bronze medals whiles the University of Ghana took the third position with 4 gold 9 silver and 10 bronze medals. The University of Education Winneba placed fourth position with 1 gold, 4 silver and 8 bronze medal whiles the fifth position was taken by University of Energy and Natural Resource. The University of Professional Studies, Accra, University of Mines and Technology and the University of Health and Allied Sciences placed sixth position with no medal.

Vice-Chancellor’s Closing Remarks

In his speech at the closing ceremony of the 8th Mini Gusa Games at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, the Vice Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, remarked that University Sports formed the catalyst for national sports development. He said   through the participation of the various universities from different parts of the nation, there has been a sense of national sports development. He congratulated UCC team for winning the competition as defending champions and commended UDS for taking the second place in competition. “For the rest of the teams, I will say you have done well by representing your universities and I wish you better luck next time,” he remarked.

Prof Ampiah congratulated all the sportsmen and women on their sterling performance at the 10-day competition. He commended the officials of the games, heads of institutions and the Local Organising Committee (LOC), chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, UCC, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh for organising the games successfully.

Government must Equip Universities with Advance Sports Infrastructure

The Ag. President of GUSA, Dr. Charles Domfeh appealed to government to support tertiary institutions in the country by providing advance sports infrastructure to produce quality sportsmen and women for the country. He added that “University sports has been the pillar on which successful countries all over the world have developed”.  

Appreciation

Dr. Domfeh commended the sportsmen and women for their high sense of discipline and comportment throughout the 10-day stay in UCC.  He thanked the Regional Minister, Hon. Kwamena Duncan and the Central Regional Director for National Sports Authority, Mr. Osarfo Adjei, for the release of the stadium for the GUSA sports activities.

The Ag. President of GUSA expressed profound gratitude to the Management of UCC for agreeing to host the Mini GUSA for the third time in less than a month’s notice adding that “By this action, UCC has demonstrated to the whole country that with the availability of facilities and expertise coupled with institutional management dedication, readiness and love for sports, the sky will be the limit for sports development”.  

Dr. Domfeh thanked the people of Cape Coast for their presence, technical men and women, management and staff of all public universities who made significant contributions towards the success of the GUSA Games.

Advice to Sportsmen and women

 To the sports men and women, he indicated that “I know how difficult is it to combine studies with sports but with proper planning and dedication you can always make it.” He noted that though the system did not allow them to sacrifice sports at the expense of academics; they needed to combine both sports and academics effectively to succeed. He announced that some of the sports men and women would be selected to represent Ghana in the World University Games-Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) Games from July 3-14, 2019 in Napoli, Italy.

 To the media, he urged them to dedicate an aspect of their programmes to promote academic sports. “You have a lot of coverage so you can target our Basic School Sports, Second Cycle Sports and University/Tertiary Institution Sports. Give it a trial, nurture it, and it will be one of the best brands of media coverage in Ghana,” he noted.

Closing Remark by LoC Chairperson

The Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chairperson, Pro Vice-Chancellor, UCC, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, thanked all the Vice Chancellors, especially, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, Registrars (from UCC, UDS UG) and Institutional Reps for their immense professional, moral, and emotional support as well as their presence. She expressed appreciation to the authorities and staff of Cape Coast Stadium, Robert Mensah Stadium and other sports facilities which were used for the GUSA Games.

Below was the Overall Medal Table for the 8th Mini GUSA Games which was hosted by UCC:

8TH MINI GUSA GAMES

OVERALL MEDAL TABLE

Deserving sportsmen and women teams were presented with certificates, medals and trophies at the closing ceremony.