Category Archives: Latest News

The 1998 Alumni of the University has performed a ground-breaking ceremony for the installation of solar lights on some streets on campus.

The total cost of the street light project is estimated at GH¢28,000.

Giving Back to Alma Mater

Speaking at the ceremony, a representative of the 1998 Alumni, Mrs. Christa Osei-Mensah, noted that funds had been mobilised for the completion of work. “We are looking forward to the inauguration of the project in the first week of August,” she said.

Mrs. Osei-Mensah said members of the year group saw the need to give back to the UCC for contributing immensely to their successes in life. She noted that the group was making efforts to get other members of their year group to join them in order to mobilise more funds to embark on other projects for the University. “This is just the beginning of great things to come,” she assured.

Alumni Play an Important Role in the Development of Universities

The Provost, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS), Prof. L. K. Sam-Amoah, who represented Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, commended the 1998 Alumni for remembering the University. He noted that alumni associations play an important role in the development of universities. “Top universities in the world depend heavily on their alumni to undertake some development activities,” he indicated.

Prof. Sam-Amoah said the project by the 1998 Alumni group was in line with UCC’s medium to long term plans. “Management has piloted some solar lights as part of efforts to go full solar with the street lights on campus,” he explained. He called on other year groups to emulate the example of the 1998 Alumni group.

Symbolic Donation

The Vice President of the UCC National Alumni, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, described the gesture as symbolic since it coincides with the 20th Anniversary of the year group. He commended them for showing the path for others to follow. “Finish this task and take on another project,” he urged.

Prof. Nyarko-Sampson who is also a member of the 1998 Alumni encouraged them to go beyond the project to bring other colleagues on board for various social activities.

A team from the Michigan State University (MSU), USA, has called on the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh as part of a process to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University.
Introduction

Introducing the team to the Pro Vice-Chancellor, the Dean, Centre for International Education(CIE), Prof. Rosemond Boohene, explained that, the two Universities have had discussions to establish a collaboration and therefore, an MoU had been developed to formalise the relationship. Prof. Boohene said the team was on campus as a follow up to firm-up the process. The Dean of CIE said the team had also visited some departments to explore other areas they could possibly expand the collaboration to cover.
Gratitude to MSU

Welcoming the team, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the University Management expressed gratitude to Michigan State University, for responding and visiting UCC to ensure that the collaboration came into fruition. She assured the team, “We are ready to partner with Michigan State University for a strong academic collaboration.”

Prof. Edu-Buandoh thanked the team led by the Associate Dean, International Programmes, MSU, Dr. Robert Glew, for the visit and hoped that it would pave way for students from both institutions to develop their potentials and impact the global community positively.

Present at the meeting were the Acting College Registrar, College of Education Studies (C.E.S), Mrs. Alberta Graham, Head, Department of Basic Education, Dr. H. Dickson Angbing, Senior Assistant Registrar, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Dr. (Mrs.) Georgina Asi Owusu, Junior Assistant Registrar, C.E.S, Mr. Benjamin Ortsin, and Dr. Margo Glew, MSU.

The Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) in collaboration with the Sam Jonah Library has organised a training workshop for academic staff and postgraduate students on how to use the “Turnitin (Plagiarism Check Software).
Turnitin Software
Addressing participants at the workshop, the University Librarian, UCC, Dr. Mac Anthony Cobblah, explained: “Turnitin is plagiarism check software which is used to check how much people have copied from the web sources by giving the similarity index”. He said when the Turnitin Software was run on a research work; it helped to detect the content that has been copied from other sources.”
Dr. Cobblah explained that having introduced the Plagiarism Policy in the University, there was the need to be vigilant through the use of technology, hence, the use of Turnitin Software by both instructors and students. “We believe that this will help both instructors and students during writing and supervision to produce quality research works in the University,” he said.
Benefits of Turnitin Software
Describing the other benefits of the programme, he noted that apart from checking plagiarism, the software could also provide both the instructors and students with the platform to mark, score, and to make assessment and comments. Emphasising on the number of people to enrol or register on the System, he stated, “We currently have the licence for one thousand (1000) students, however, there is no limit to the number of instructors who can be registered by the System (Software). On the requirements for registration, he indicated that only an active ‘email address’ would be needed to register each and every instructor or student in order to have access to the use of the software.
The facilitator of the training workshop, a Principal Research Assistant, DRIC, UCC, Mr. Isaac Nketsia, took participants through the registration and practical sessions at the training workshop.

The Senior Staff Association announces sales of land 2019 and hereby inform interested members to pick a form at the SSAUCC Secretariat at GHs 20.00 to be enrolled. The Land is located at Atabadze, behind the Goil Filling Station.

Land with papers excluding registration costs Ghs. 5,800.00 and Ghs. 6,000.00 for Senior Staff and others respectively. Payment is by installment and to be deducted from source only within a period of 18 months. Non members of SSAUCC are required to pay an initial payment of Ghs. 1,000.00.

Members are entreated to visit the Association’s Secretariat at the Old site for more details. Thank You.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has announced that the University has instituted measures to reduce the level of plagiarism in postgraduate research work.

In view of this, he noted that the Academic Board has approved a Plagiarism Policy to be implemented in the 2019/2020 academic year.

Prof. Ampiah made the announcement at the 17th Session of the 51st Congregation held for graduates of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS).

In addition to this, the Vice-Chancellor indicated that the University has purchased the “Turnitin software” to help reduce the level of plagiarism and increase the potency and originality of research output. “Currently, staff and postgraduate students are being trained in the use of the ‘Turnitin software’, he added.

Statistics of Graduating Students

On the statistics for the congregation, Prof. Ampiah said a total of 1, 183 graduates comprising 61 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), 186 Master of Philosophy (M.Phil), 10 Master of Commerce (M.Com), 9 Master of Nursing(MN), 633 Master of Business Administration (MBA), 160 Executive Master of Business Administration(EMBA), 4 Master of Education (M.Ed), 6 Master of Science (M.Sc), 51 Master of Arts(MA), 54 Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PgDE) and 9 Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PgCE). He noted that out of this number, 495 students received their training through Distance from the College of Distance Education.

The Vice-Chancellor said Management of the University had not relented on its effort to improve on teaching and learning facilities on campus. He indicated that Graduate Programme Coordinators have been appointed in the Colleges, Faculties and Schools to facilitate postgraduate programmes. He mentioned that seminars on e-learning for postgraduate students were mounted on a consistent basis and had been made user-friendly. “At least once in each academic year, special seminars aimed at improving graduate studies and ensuring completion of programmes on schedule are organised for graduate students where Senior Faculty members take them through the essentials of graduate research work” he reported.

Research Grants

Speaking on Research Grants, Prof. Ampiah said the Samuel and Emelia Brew-Butler GRASAG-UCC fund was established in response to increasing demand by students and SGS for the production of high-quality graduate research and early completion of graduate degree programmes. “The Fund provides financial support to alleviate the financial burden students go through in undertaking their research projects and to produce high-quality research within approved programme duration” he explained. He said 40 students made up of 33 MPhil and 7 PhD students received a total of GH ¢120, 000 as grants to support their data collection.
Future of Postgraduate Studies

On the future of postgraduate studies in the University, the Vice-Chancellor said SGS would increase the enrolment of students into the various postgraduate programmes and also make delivery of courses more flexible. “SGS will continue to bridge the gender gap by rolling out more flexible, career-oriented programmes through our various modes of delivery to make it possible for all who are willing to enrol” he added. He assured that the University library facilities especially, e-library would be expanded for students on campus and off campus. “Contracts will soon be awarded for a state-of-the-art Graduate Resource Centre and Research Commons and we envisage that this will boost graduate studies. We look up to these, alongside the refurbishment of the Main Library building for the next academic year,” he announced. Prof. Ampiah further noted that the University shall continue to explore both local and international collaboration to boost graduate education delivery.
Postgraduate Researchers Are Major Drivers of Innovation and Growth

The Chancellor, Sir, (Dr) Sam Esson Jonah, observed that the advanced knowledge and skills of postgraduates and postgraduate researchers, in particular, were major drivers of innovation and growth. “Products of postgraduate education are, therefore, needed to staff Research and Development Institutions, to drive scientific innovations, as well as high technology manufacturing firms,” he observed. According to him such institutions and firms were the main vehicles through which the results of the research were infused into the local economy, transforming the technical bases of agricultural and manufacturing production. “Postgraduate programmes are essential for training university professors and thus improving the quality of tertiary education, today and for future generations” he stressed.

SGS Producing More Graduates

The Chancellor commended SGS for providing strategic leadership and administrative structures within a diverse group of students and faculty in the graduate field. “The School of Graduate Studies continues to enhance the intellectual life of the University by enabling graduate and professional students to undertake scholarly study and advanced research and to prepare for professional work” he noted.

Sir Jonah reminded the graduands that more innovative ways of doing business and spectacular technologies were emerging and therefore, advised them to be among the 21st Century think thanks who engineer such progress. “The University has empowered you with generic and discipline-specific research, knowledge and skills, employment-related skills and competencies. We will be looking forward to receiving feedback from your communities and the nation as a whole on how you have impacted society with these resources” he implored.

The Chancellor urged the graduates to consider investing in the agriculture sector which according to him has great potentials.

A book that chronicles the background, life journey and leadership of Prof. Domwini Dabire Kuupole, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University has been launched on campus.

The 131-page book titled “Managing the Contemporary Ghanaian University: Reflections of a former Vice-Chancellor” provides a historical background of the University, touches on the person and profile of Prof. Kuupole, career journey through UCC and his achievements and challenges he encountered during his term as Vice-Chancellor. It also spells out some lessons learnt and the way forward.

Managing a University is Complex

The guest speaker for the launch, Prof. Clifford Nii Boye Tagoe, noted that the modern-day university has not only become large but complex in structure and organisation. He indicated that managing a modern university anywhere in the world was not a joke especially in Africa where funding was a major problem. In the face of these complexities, he noted that a Vice-Chancellor must show leadership to manage the university to fulfill its mandate. “The Vice-Chancellor must, therefore, be versatile as much as possible to keep the ship afloat to move it forward all the time.”

Prof. Tagoe who is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, posited that “Each Vice-Chancellor brings to office certain unique attitudes, knowledge and leadership styles”. He, therefore, recommended that the story of each Vice-Chancellor must be told stressing that “each one must be told separately” .

The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana commended the authors for coming out with the book which he described as timely. “There is a lot which the current and future generation of University leaders can learn from Prof. Kuupole’s experiences, achievements, ideas, and challenges as Vice-Chancellor,” he urged. He also commended Prof. Kuupole for allowing his life story to be chronicled as a University leader for others to learn valuable lessons from him. “I believe your effort will be an encouragement to former Vice-Chancellors who are yet to write their own books,” he noted.

Achievements of Prof. Kuupole as Vice-Chancellor
The Reviewer of the book, Dr. Paul Effah, commended Prof. Kuupole for developing a comprehensive research plan for UCC and creating the Directorate of Research, Innovation, and Consultancy as well as the introduction of an award scheme aimed at improving research in the University. He also praised him for the introduction of the Collegiate system and embarking on various infrastructural development and other Income Generating Funds (IGF) projects during his term as Vice-Chancellor.

Dr. Effah who is the President of Radford University College recommended to the authors to adequately address human resource development especially on Continuous Professional Development that took place under Prof. Kuupole’s administration in subsequent editions of the book.

Background of the Book

Making a remark, Prof. Kuupole said the concept to write the book was mooted by Mr. Moses Maclean Abnory when he was about exiting office as Vice-Chancellor in 2016. According to him, the book was to serve as a source of reference and motivation for people in the higher education enterprises who might one day want to learn something about different shades of leadership and management challenges and successes through the lenses of someone who has held different leadership positions in a Ghanaian University. He added that it had the potential of inspiring future university leaders. “Up and coming leaders can take inspiration from the leadership strategies that could be adopted or adapted to improve the systems in which they work,” he said.

Appreciation to Authors

Prof. Kuupole thanked the team of authors led by Mr. Abnory for digging deep into his life story to his amazement. He remarked “I thought I knew myself well but reading through pages of the book, the lenses with which colleagues subordinates friends and indeed my family viewed me as a person and also my leadership style, I realised that I never precisely know who I was nor my leadership styles. I must admit that I have learnt much more about myself from reading this book than I ever thought possible”.

Launching of Book

The President of the Presbyterian University College of Ghana, Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng, who officially launched the book, said the book would serve as a guide to current leadership of Universities in the country. Prof. Obeng who is a former Vice-Chancellor of UCC noted that the current scene of the tertiary educational landscape was very cumbersome and therefore, the lessons and experiences that had been shared in the book could help address some challenges in the system. “When I was Vice-Chancellor, there were only five Universities but now they are about 10 and everybody is struggling to understand the system,” he averred.

The first 10 copies were auctioned for GH ¢2, 000.

The University Junior High School (UJHS), has presented a Trophy the School won at the National Core Subjects Quiz Competition to the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah.
UJHS amassed 63 points to beat the defending Champions of the competition-Greenfield Schools in Agona-Swedru, who had 53 points in the finals held at Mamprobi Evangelical Presbyterian School, Accra. The UJHS team was represented by Joseph Adaye-Essien, Vera Adwoa Appiah and Hannah Benyeba Edjah. For their prize, they received a trophy and a cheque for GH ¢2, 000.
Levels of the Competition
The Headmistress of UJHS, Mrs. Kate Frimpong who led the delegation, explained that the contestants qualified at the Regional level placing third but resolved to prepare adequately to win the competition at the national level. “Through the collaborative effort of the teachers and dedicated spirit of the students, we were able to triumph over all our opponents from the preliminary stage, which involved thirty-two (32) schools, through to the quarter-finals, semi-final, and final stages,” she stated.
Congratulations
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, congratulated the contestants on winning the competition. He also commended the Head Mistress and the teaching staff for their effort and determination to lift the image of UJHS in particular and UCC in general high. He acknowledged the sacrifices of the teachers towards achieving this feat and urged them to continue with their good job.
To the contestants, the Vice-Chancellor asked them to remain focused in their studies saying, “it is good to win trophies, but you have to learn to pass all your exams”. He entreated the students to work hard to defend the trophy and bring it back in the next competition. “Don’t learn only for quizzes but whatever you study in school should be translated in all your endeavours,” he advised.
Present at the presentation ceremony were the Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan, the Headteacher of University Primary School, Mrs. Georgina Aglobitse; the Head of University Basic School, North Campus, Mr. Victor Addison and some teaching staff of the Basic Schools.

Introduction
As part of the Association’s policies to improve the Members’ welfare, the Association entered into an agreement with Tecede Auto Sales Limited to supply Vehicles to interested members who will pay in monthly installment for a period of three years. The Director of Human Resource, Rev. Isaac Baafi Sarbeng received the first batch of Vehicles on behalf of the Association and helped in the presentation to members.
Challenges
Over the period, there has been some challenges with respect to delays in shipping and Clearance of vehicle beyond control of the Association, changes in the original agreements due to the escalating import duties, minimum cash inflows and other few challenges. Cooperation through dialogues between the stakeholders has helped to minimize the impact of these challenges.
Current State
In spite of all these Challenges, the Association has been able to supply thirteen (13) Vehicles to the under listed staff.
1 Samuel K. Tawiah-Mensah — TOYOTA RAV 4 12
2 James Paa Ghartey — NISSAN ROGUE 09
3 Mary Essilfie-Afful — NISSAN ROGUE 10
4 Samuel R. Marcout — CHEVORLET CRUZE 13
5 Mrs Veronica — CHEVROLET CRUZE 13
6 Emmanuel Adjei — SATURN OUTLOOK
7 Charles Amos Odoom — NISSAN VERSA,15
8 Barbie Eghan-Yartel — NISSAN VERSA 13
9 Donatus Bapentire Angnuureng — NISSAN ROGUE, 13
10 Cyprian Amankwah — FORD FOCUS
11 Walker Edward Kweku — CHEVROLET CRUZE , 14
12 Doreen Tetteh Coffie — HUNDAI SANTAFE 14
13 Alloh Jean-Gervais — FORD FIESTA 15

The SSAUCC Vehicle Scheme is still in progress and we entreat our subscribers to cope with the Association to deliver in their best interest.
Members should not hesitate to visit the SSAUCC Secretariat for further information on the SSAUCC Vehicle Scheme.
Thank you.

The National Executives of the Senior Staff Association-Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) has written a reminder to the Executive Secretary, National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) on the above issue. As indicated in the earlier letter which is yet to be responded, the Senior Staff category at various Universities are different from the Senior Staff category at the other public sectors and hence it is stated emphatically that the NCTE should kindly engage in dialogue with stakeholders to revisit their directive for the stoppage of payment of overtime to senior staff.

The Association would be glad to hearing from the NCTE within the shortest possible time so as to convey the information to our agitated members.

Download a copy of the letter here [wpdm_package id=’1939′]

The Senior Staff Association, UCC (SSAUCC) and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union, UCC (TEWU-UCC) in an Emergency General Meeting held on 28th March, 2019 at Bottom Tree, protested against the withdrawal of Overtime Allowance of Senior Staff 16L and above and the arrears of soap to Conservative staff and other staff of the University of Cape Coast.
The Unions unanimously resolved that, University Management’s inability to pay all arrears and restore the overtime allowance as other Universities by Monday 15th April, 2019 will result in partial withdrawal of extra duties performed by all Senior and Junior Staff in the University and other actions.
Mr. John Kofi Nyan, the Registrar, received the resolution on behalf of the Vice Chancellor and assured the grieved staff of a favorable response since the University Management cares about the well-being of every staff.
However, the University Management is expected to respond to this peaceful resolution by Monday, 1st April, 2019.
Please download other relating documents below.
[wpdm_package id=’1915′], [wpdm_package id=’1922′], [wpdm_package id=’1926′], [wpdm_package id=’1924′], [wpdm_package id=’1919′]