The Chairman of the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) in charge of West Africa, Rev. Hee Jin Park, has indicated that Ghana can become one of the developed nations in the world if there is a change in mindset of its citizens.

Rev. Park noted that Ghana, after gaining independence was far developed than South Korea, however, the latter was now among the most advanced nations in the world whiles the former was still grappling with basic needs for its people. He said South Korea had lower GDP than Ghana in 1957 but now the third largest economy in Asia and the 11^th in the world.

Speaking at a seminar at the School of Medical Sciences Auditorium, on the topic “Impact of Mindset Education in South Korea: Lesson for Ghana” , Rev. Park said though South Korea went through difficult moments including 36 years of war, the nation has emerged as one of the successful economic giants in the world. He said the success story of Korea did not happen on a silver platter adding that the people had a mindset that they had to work hard for a better tomorrow for the next generation to benefit. “If there is no change of Mind whatever we have is useless,” he noted.

Development with Proceeds from Exporting Labour

According to Rev. Park, South Korea had to rely on proceeds from exporting labour to other nations for her development. Soldiers from South Korea also fought for other powerful nations like the United States of America in exchange of funds. In spite of the direct consequence of these painful decisions on the people, Rev. Park, said South Korea gradually channeled the proceeds received to useful ventures that had contributed significantly towards elevating the nation from poverty to an economic giant in the world.  

Priority on Education

Rev. Park said the success story of South Korea could be attributed to the priority placed on education. He said there was a deliberate policy to inculcate good character in students so that they would be patriotic citizens.

Without mind education, Rev. Park said it was impossible for development to take place. He said though the economic outlook of Ghana was currently not the best, with positive mindset Ghana could be one of the most developed countries in the world.

Students Need a New Mindset

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, advised UCC students to set themselves apart by developing a new mindset whiles on campus so that they could become responsible leaders who would help to transform Ghana. “We need a paradigm shift from the old ways we do things and this can be possible if you the future leaders resolve to have a change of mindset,” he noted.

The lecture was chaired by Dr. Eugene Johnson Adjei, of the Department of Science Education.

A former Deputy Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Prof. Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, has urged the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS), to set up an interdisciplinary research team to undertake vigorous research and development projects to find solutions to local and national problems.

Speaking on theme “Fostering Interdisciplinary Partnership in the Life Sciences: Prospects and Challenges in a Globalised World,” Prof. Oteng-Yeboah said there were numerous benefits of Interdisciplinary Partnership in the Life Sciences. He said through that approach the College could investigate and explore the vital links in Agriculture, Forestry and Medicine to Biology for the human well-being.

Prospects of Interdisciplinary for CANS

  Prof. Oteng-Yeboah who was the guest speaker at the fourth K. N. Eyeson Lecture organised by the School of Biological Sciences, noted that with interdisciplinary approach, the College could vigorously pursue research and development projects with collaboration with local industries and enterprises to find solutions to their operational difficulties. For instance, he said “What comes to mind immediately is the contribution to raw material availability for sugarcane and pineapple industries or enterprises, and also for lagoon, estuarine and coastal marine fishery for artisanal fishers, fish processing including fish smokers and fish mongers”.

Prof. Oteng-Yeboah said institutions that have already applied interdisciplinary approach equip their students to advance critical thinking and cognitive development and appreciate ethical dimensions of various disciplines.  “Interdiscipline promotes significant learning in the sense of foundational knowledge application, integration, human dimensions, caring and learning and thus obtain insights into the process of learning” he noted.

The Professor of Botany said this approach to learning helped the student to appreciate the fact that the problems of the world were complex and, therefore, no single discipline could adequately describe and resolve them. Prof. Oteng-Yeboah was presented with citation by the School of Biological Sciences after he delivered the lecture.

About K. N. Eyeson Annual Lecture

The K. N. Eyeson lecture was instituted by the School of Biological Sciences to honour Emeritus Kodwo Ndzeba Eyeson for his outstanding contribution to his field of specialisation and also training some of the lecturers in the School.

Brief Profile of K. N. Eyeson Lecture

Emeritus Prof. K.N. Eyeson attended the St. Monica’s School (1942-44) Government Boys’ School (1952-51), Mfantseman School (1952-57) for his ‘O’ Level and ‘A’ Level examinations all in Cape Coast, and studied for the B.Sc. Honours degree in Zoology (1958-62) at the University of Ghana. He proceeded to the University of Leeds and between 1965 and 1968, obtained a PhD in Zoology, specializing in Comparative Endocrinology.

Emeritus Prof. K. N. Eyeson had gone through all the gamut of teaching in the University of Cape Coast: he was appointed Assistant Lecturer by the University in 1963, he was promoted to Lecturer (in 1965) and then a Senior Lecturer in 1972. By dint of hard work, he was promoted again to the rank of Associate Professor in 1978 and ultimately to Professor of Zoology in 1988. He served as an Acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC from 1988-1989.