Month: August 2022

Morso (Ash), Aug. 31, GNA – The chiefs and people of Morso in the Asante Akim South Municipality have held a grand durbar in honour of Eden Nana Obeng Kyei, the captain of the 2021 National Maths and Science Quiz winning team of Prempeh College.

Eden, who led Prempeh College to clinch their fifth title in the history of the prestigious competition, was the hero of the day as residents, including children, adults, opinion leaders, and chiefs gathered to give him a rousing welcome.

As a son of the land who had made them proud, the people could not hide their joy when the young man arrived in the company of his parents and siblings as they danced to loud music to herald his entry.

It was a beautiful atmosphere akin to the celebration of an Akan festival as most elderly indigenes proudly displayed assorted Kente to signify the ecstatic mood of the community.

Morso is a farming community in the Asante Akyem enclave known for doctors, engineers and professors, among others, over the years.

Most of these personalities have been at the forefront of various endeavours at the national and international levels, projecting the image of the small community of about 3,000 population.

The people were of the firm conviction that Eden Nana Obeng Kyei is another great personality in the making and must, therefore, be celebrated to spur him to bring honour to the community.

Acknowledging his achievement, according to them, would not only motivate him to win more laurels but also encourage the younger ones to aspire to follow in his footsteps.

After scoring eight As in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Kyei has won a scholarship to study Computer Engineering at the California Institute of Technology in the United States of America.

His impeccable academic record caught the eyes of Old Students of Prempeh College and the Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim South, Mr Kwaku Asante-Boateng, who collectively secured a scholarship for him to study abroad.

The Chiefs, Queen Mothers, elders, opinion leaders, pastors and well-wishers took turns to bless and encourage him to hold high the flag of Ghana and particularly Morso as he embarked on another journey of his academic life.

The headmaster and staff of Prempeh College and Ave Maria Junior High School where he sat for his Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were also on hand to support their student.

They praised him for the lasting memories and honour he brought to the schools and wished him well in his endeavours abroad.

The community raised funds and presented various gifts to him as a token to support his academic progression.

Nana Otuo Acheampong, the Adontenhene of Morso, who chaired the event, praised the boy for making his parents and the community proud.

He counselled him to remain focused as he travelled outside to pursue further studies, reminding him that there were a lot of children looking up to him as their role models.

He encouraged other students in the community to emulate the good example of Eden and stay away from social vices that could potentially ruin their future.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Sumbrungu (U/E), Aug 31, GNA – The Bolgatanga Technical University and the University of Johannesburg, South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for academic collaboration to enhance the growth and development of the two universities.

The MoU will provide cooperation in the academic activities of the two institutions to help strengthen mutual understanding, foster friendly cooperation and promote sustainable and productive academic collaboration and exchange studies between faculties, researchers, and students.

The collaboration would also provide opportunities to the staff of the universities, especially the Bolgatanga Technical University, to upgrade to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) levels to ensure the quality of tuition and growth of the university.

Speaking at Sumbrungu in the Upper East Region, Professor Clinton Aigbavboa, Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, University of Johannesburg (UJ), said most academic and research institutions in Africa were currently facing the challenge of getting PhD degree holders who are very critical staff for manning such institutions.

Professor Aigbavboa attributed the shortage of PhD degree holders in the academic and research institutions in Africa to the growth within the professions and the spate of faculty retirements and said the situation might worsen if nothing was done about it.

Professor Aigbavboa indicated that PhD education was a prerequisite to a research career and should ensure that the students could later take on independent, long-term research commitments, adding “the work required to earn a PhD is not worth the effort if you don’t intend to do research,” he stated.

Professor Aigbavboa made a presentation to the academic and administrative staff of BTU dubbed “PhD Academic Journey”, and took the participants through PhD Proposal and Dissertation Writing.

He entreated the staff of BTU and other tertiary intuitions in the country to take advantage of the opportunity provided under the joint academic collaboration to obtain PhDs.

“Thus, there are currently many opportunities available for persons with PhD training in Africa,” Professor Aigbavboa stressed.

Professor Peter Osei-Boamah, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Bolgatanga Technical University, who jointly signed the MOU document on behalf of the management, said his outfit was happy to go into the partnership.

He said the University of Johannesburg was equipped with state-of-art teaching and learning facilities and had been ranked among the best universities in the world and Africa and hoped for a fruitful collaboration.

He indicated that although a considerable number of lecturers in BTU had obtained their PhDs and were teaching, management was creating the enabling environment without compromising the teaching and learning of students to ensure that lecturers, who did not have their terminal degrees obtained them as a requirement for teaching in tertiary institutions.

Professor Osei-Boamah said the new collaboration would also lead to the organisation of conferences, seminars, symposiums, joint research projects in the areas of interest, collaboration on third-party funded educational or economic assistance activities, student exchange and study abroad programmes.

He added that the Bolgatanga Technical University was considering mounting postgraduate programmes in future and indicated that the partnership would help strengthen and accelerate the growth of the Technical University and impressed the staff of the university to avail themselves of the PhD programmes under the MoU.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Aug. 31, GNA – The Methodist University Ghana (MUG) Community welcomed its autonomous status as a full-fledged University with a funfair, singing and dancing.

The University, which was then known as the Methodist University College Ghana will now award its degrees, diplomas, and certificates rather than through an affiliate University as required of all private Universities without a charter.

The Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar, who led the delegation back from the Jubilee House, where the Charter was presented to them by the President danced together with other Deans, Staff and Students for the attainment of the Charter Status.

The Most Reverend Titus Awotwi Pratt received the Charter Certificate from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on behalf of the University.

Mr Okyere Boateng, the Registrar of the University, told the Ghana News Agency that attaining autonomous status for the University College had been a rather onerous but well-deserving journey.

He said, “we thank everyone for this momentous achievement. Management very much appreciates our collective efforts and efforts and support, which has brought this institution this far.”

The Registrar commended members of staff and those who worked tirelessly and directly to ensure that the dream of becoming an autonomous institution came into reality.

Mr Boateng said the agenda should be to work towards the growth of the University, adding that the growth was possible only when staff, students, and external stakeholders of the University work together to ensure that the institutional mandate was always kept in focus.

He said, “lets us bring new energies, think innovatively, show enthusiasm and have in mind the core institutional values, which drive us to excellence in our work delivery.”

He said values such as teamwork, best practices, equity, good corporate governance and accountability and student alumni inclusiveness should be seen in the day-to-day activities.

The Registrar said the University must bear in mind that autonomy did not mean the absence of regulations, the institution would operate in accordance with set standards for the achievement of excellence in all aspects of the University’s work.

He said there would be the need to introduce measures to develop institutional capacities and human resources, encouraging staff to work harder to enable the University to continue to exhibit its cherished motto: “Excellence, Morality and Service.”

Very Reverend Professor John David K. Ekem, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of MUG, commended the forerunners for their commitment and efforts in the attainment of the Charter status.

He also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Methodist Church Ghana led by the Presiding Bishop of the Church for their support and encouragement over the years.

He said going forward the University would introduce attractive programmes and courses to serve the University Community.

There was a live band on standby, which provided melodious songs and tunes to entertain students and staff.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tamale, Aug. 31, GNA – The University for Development Studies (UDS), through its Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (IIR), has introduced a short course in ethics and social responsibility at the workplace in a bid to help tackle corruption through moral and ethical standards.

Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye, the Vice-Chancellor of UDS, who launched the course during a national dialogue on ethics, corruption and sustainable development organised by the UDS in Tamale, said it was targeted at changing the attitude of both students and workers to enhance the fight against corruption.

He said admissions were open for the course to enrol individuals who were in public service, security services, vocational and technical areas, non-governmental organisations, students and workers across all fields.

Professor Mamudu Akudugu, the Deputy Director of IIR, said the rationale for the introduction of the ethics course was to move from tackling corruption from the legal and institutional framework perspective to using individuals within institutions for the fight.

He said the course was not just academic-based but entailed field practicals and case studies that would influence behavioural change.

It aims also to build the capacity of individuals faced with dilemmas in decision making, to make ethical decisions.

He noted that the course had various modules, including ethical fitness, ethical standards in the professions, moral courage, courage parenting, building institutional culture, ethical leadership, ethics and social responsibility.

Mr Manasseh Azure Awuni, an Investigative Journalist, lauded UDS for the initiative, saying the course might turn out to be the university’s biggest achievement and greatest contribution to developing the country given that ethics were the rarest virtue in the country.

He stated that teaching ethics would be meaningless if promotions and appointments in the University were based on political and ethnic considerations rather than meritocracy.

He advised that the course be extended to be taken by undergraduates, not just people in trusted positions, to inculcate ethical standards in the daily activities of people across ages and qualifications.

Mr Azure encouraged students to strive and avoid cutting corners, which would sabotage their future, adding that corrupt acts blamed on poverty, were not the case.

Mr Samson Lardy Anyenini, a Lawyer and Journalist, who spoke via zoom, said citizens must make the right advocacies for laws such as the whistleblower law and others against corruption to be implemented as expected to defeat corrupt leadership and individuals.

He called for the full execution of Article 35 (8) of the Constitution of Ghana, which would provide legislative backing to the citizenry to properly participate in the fight against corruption.

Mrs Mary Awelana Addah, Programmes Manager at Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), said ethics were crucial in fighting corruption hence the GII was poised to partner UDS to enhance good governance.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Aug. 31, GNA –The University of Ghana has launched its 75th anniversary celebrations ahead of the climax next year, 2023.

The launch commences a year-long preparations to commemorate the anniversary including community outreaches, alumni homecoming and games.

The anniversary is on the theme, “Nurturing Resilience: Adopting Technology, Embracing Humanism.”

Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice Chancellor of the University, said the anniversary offered an opportunity for the University Community to celebrate its gains and reflect on its future.

She noted that the University had become a premium centre of excellence in the provision of tertiary education in the country and the African sub-region since its establishment.

Prof. Amfo said the University had earned this feat due to the hard work and commitment of its stakeholders, including the teaching staff and the student body.

“We are excited about what the future presents us as an institution and we are fully embracing new methods of teaching and learning, especially in the use of technology,” she reiterated.

Mrs Elsie Addo Awadzi, Second Deputy Governor, Bank of Ghana, called on the University to structure its course offerings to meet today and future challenges.

Mrs Awadzi, who was a guest of honour, asked the University to employ the use of technology to aid teaching and learning in the advent of challenges.

“We need a strong ethical and moral foundation for the university, one that instils in students a sense of personal responsibility to advance the public interest and the common good.”

“We also need to promote a stronger sense of community though active engagement and inclusion of all key stakeholder groups in shaping the future of our university,” she added.

The University of Ghana was founded by Ordinance in August 11, 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast to provide and promote university education, learning and research.

The launch was graced by Madam Frema Osei Opare, Chief of Staff; Mrs Mary Chinery-Hesse, Chancellor; Justice Sophia Akuffo, Chairperson of the University Council and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Aug. 31, GNA – Dr George Akuffo Dampare, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has admonished graduates not to put their lives on “autopilot” in wait of favours or opportunities from others after graduation.

He advised them to go out and use their talents and skills acquired to create opportunities for themselves.

“You need to go out and do something for yourselves, you are responsible for your success. Every favour that comes your way work towards it,” he said.

The IGP said this at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) School of Graduate Studies’ graduation ceremony.

In all, 826 students graduated in various post graduate degree programmes of the University.

They comprised 26 Master of Philosophy students, 602 Master of Business Administration students, 129 Master of Arts students, and 69 Master of Science students.

Dr Dampare urged the graduates to have a disciplined mindset and persevere in their endeavours.

He said they should not give up easily when they encountered failures in life, saying, they should see failures as part of the process of success.

“Live everyday as its your last day, giving out your best in all you do. Spend energy and time on improving yourself everyday,” he added.

Professor Abednego Amartey, Vice Chancellor, UPSA, advised them to apply all the knowledge and skills they had acquired to overcome the challenges of the world.

He urged them to be innovative and disciplined to survive in the changing world.

“To be innovative, you will have to constantly challenge yourself to perform higher by devising better ways of achieving more with less or with nothing at all,” he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency