The Daily Graphic had reported that “top-level sources” at the University had slammed Prof. Yankah for suggesting that government was working to ensure the University of Ghana’s financial challenges borne out of the deal are addressed.

But the Registrar of the University, Mercy Haizel-Ashia, said in a statement that the University has not issued any statement in response to comments by Prof. Yankah, nor have appointed anyone to react on its behalf.

“The University of Ghana has neither issued any comments on the interview granted by the Minister State responsible for Tertiary Education, nor authorized any agents to do so on itself…Management, therefore, dissociates itself from these comments reported to have been made by top officials of the University in response to the Minister of State’s interview. Such untruths are borne out of mischief and the general public is advised to ignore them,” she said.

Read the full statement below:

There is an ensuing controversy over the University of Ghana’s $64 million agreement entered into during the era of its former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey with Africa Integras, which the current Vice Chancellor believes  has left the school in a serious financial situation.

The Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in a recent media interview, indicated that the school might be privatized if it fails to meet its obligations in the $64 million agreement.

However the Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah, said government is committed to ensuring that the University of Ghana is not privatized.

–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We never criticized Prof. Yankah over $64m deal – UG appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They have also been urged to avoid the temptation to cut corners in any form, and eschew malpractices during examinations.

Professor Edmund Ameko, acting Vice Chancellor of Accra Technical University, gave the advice at the University’s 25th Matriculation ceremony held on Friday.

According to the acting Vice Chancellor, those practices and behaviours have been the bane of many students who have withdrawn.

Prof. Ameko said the University received 7,934 applications, however 6,669 qualified, and were offered admissions, with the percentage of female students admitted representing 43 per cent.

He explained that last year, the University was able to admit 4,528 students to pursue courses such as civil engineering, building technology, fashion design and textiles, computer science, marketing among others.

Prof Ameko indicated that, the University currently had a student population of about 15,000, with 614 full time and part time staff, crammed on 22.6 acres of land.

“It is evident that our current infrastructure is under a lot of pressure,” he added.

However, the acting Vice Chancellor said the University would do all it could with the available resources to make training and studies of students successful.

He announced that, the University is developing a second campus at Mempemehuasem, near Nsawam, and the School of Engineering would be relocated there in due course.

Prof. Ameko was enthused that government through the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), was providing the University with four laboratories and workshops for the Mechanical Engineering, Furniture Design and Production, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Building Technology and Civil Engineering programmes at the new campus.

He said government was also providing the laboratories and workshops with equipment to train students.

Prof. Ameko said the University has introduced Virtual Internship Programme (VIP) for its students this year, adding that, 650 students undertook their industrial attachments through the VIP programme.

Additionally, Prof Ameko said the University has completed the construction of 32 room guest house, which would serve as a training facility for students in the Hotel Catering and Institutional Management.

He therefore appealed to the students to be committed to discipline and be worthy ambassadors of the University.

“We need the support, loyalty, commitment and cooperation of both students and staff to make this University a world-class institution of higher learning.”

Prof. Ameko urged students to also develop their competencies through constant practice, adding, “begin your dreams of what you want to become from here and work towards them diligently.’’

According to him, any breach of the University’s rules and regulations, would definitely attract appropriate sanctions.

Dillys Kwakye, acting Registrar of the University, swore the students in.

–

Source: GNA

The post Stay away from occultism, hooliganism – Vice Chancellor appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They were made up of teaching and non teaching staff comprising 27 junior and 31 senior staff, and 15 senior members.

The retirees, one of whom was honoured posthumously, had served the UCC for periods ranging between 15 and 41 years and were awarded based on their length of service.

Their awards ranged from table top and double cabin refrigerators, television sets, washing machines, living room furniture and citation plaques.

Staff in active service who are perceived to have rendered quality services over the past period, were also honoured with plaques, certificates and a cash of GH¢3,000 each.

The longest serving staff, Mr Alfred Nti, who had served for 41 years, was full of praise of the University authorities for recognising his contribution to the success story.

Other notable long servers were Professor Haruna Yakubu, an Associate Professor with the Department of Physics who had served for 31 years, and Prof. Victor Yankah, also an Associate Professor with the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, serving for 29 years.

Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, the Vice Chancellor of UCC, expressed profound gratitude to the retirees and the other staff for their years of service and efforts to help make the University’s vision a reality.

The Vice-Chancellor indicated that they were being awarded for their persistent devotion to duty and determination and urged the staff to emulate their examples to enhance the development of the University.

He said the University would continue to strengthen its relationship with the retirees and constantly engage them to tap their experiences in the development of the institution.

Prof. Ghartey Ampiah advised all the retirees to be health conscious at this period of their lives and to spend quality time with their families.

Prof. Yankah, on behalf of the retirees, expressed appreciation to the University for giving them the opportunity to serve and honouring their efforts.

–
Source: GNA

The post UCC honours 73 retired and long service staff appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The appointment took effect from June 1, 2017.

A statement signed by Reverend Tetteh Djangmah, Head of Public Relations Directorate of the University, said Prof Puplampu takes over from Professor Kwesi Yankah, who resigned early this year to take up an appointment as a Minister of State in Charge of Tertiary Education.

The statement said a Search Committee constituted by the University Council and chaired by Justice Sophia Akuffo, recommended Professor Puplampu as the most suitable candidate to lead the University into the future, adding that Professor Puplampu eminently distinguished himself throughout the search process.

Prof Puplampu, until the appointment was the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs. He had earlier served as Dean of the Central Business School from 2010 to September 2015, and also as Acting Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs between December 2014 and December 2015.

Prior to joining Central University, Prof Puplampu was the Head of Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) and Chair of the UGBS EMBA programme.

The new Vice-Chancellor is an academic and a practising Chartered Psychologist (British Psychological Society and International Association of Applied Psychology) with over 20 years of experience in business education, organisational consulting, university teaching and research.

His research interests are in the areas of Employee Motivation, Leadership, Work Values, Organisational Culture and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Prof Puplampu was a product of the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, Legon, holds a PhD in Organisational Behaviour from the University of East London (1993); MSc Occupational and Organisational Psychology from the Polytechnic of East London (1990) and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Ghana.

He is also a graduate of the German Academic Exchange Service Deans’ Course for Africa programme on Higher Education Management.

Central University currently has over 8000 students pursing 20 undergraduate and seven graduate programmes with campuses in Miotso, Mateheko and Kumasi. Central University became a fully-fledged university in January 2016 following the receipt of the Presidential Charter.

–

Source: GNA

The post Prof. Puplampu appointed Vice-Chancellor of Central University appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They said it was important for governments and stakeholders to recognize academic freedom within higher institutions of learning, not as a mere paper work as the knowledge produced by the universities were critical for the development of the human resource of the countries.

Their argument was that the constant external interference creates serious challenges for universities and affecting their outputs often negatively.

Dr Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ghana, at a two-day international workshop on academic freedom for leaders of University Teachers Associations in West Africa, said there was the need to ascertain the real state of the situation of these higher institutions across the globe.

He said globally countries have enshrined such freedoms in their national constitutions, but the fullness of their implementation cannot be guaranteed, judging from the fact that most universities were fully State funded, and their leadership appointed by the government.

He said there has been major violations of academic freedoms within the universities with respect to the programmes they offer, safety of the tenure of work of lecturers, self-checks against influences of the industrial sector to impose their research topics, as well as students’ rights to healthy exchange of knowledge with their tutors.

This, he said, was so because governments often exert too much pressure on academia for them to do what they want, leading to a major interference in the effective operations of Universities.

Dr Appiagyei-Atua said the findings of the study conducted would serve as an eye opener and a guide to awaken the consciousness of stakeholders on the existing challenges faced by universities around the world in order to find lasting solutions to them.

He said the workshop would create the platform for strengthening collaborations and networking among the various University teachers’ Association in the Sub-region, while the University of Ghana, sets up an international desk to coordinate these collaborations.

The University of Ghana would collaborate with the Scholars at Risk Network (SAR Network) to address the issues of university lecturers and provide safety grounds for members who face various threats in their respective countries.

Professor Samuel Offei, the Pro-Vice Chancellor in Charge of Academic and Student Affairs of the University of Ghana, commended the University’s School of Law and the SAR Network, for their collaborative efforts.

–

Source: GNA

The post University Lecturers Associations call for academic freedom appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said most universities still grapple with high student-to-teacher ratio which keeps increasing every year.

He expressed worry government’s moratorium on the recruitment of teachers by public universities  continue to cause a strain on the activities of the Universities.

Speaking to Citi News,  he noted that admission of fresh students at the University of Ghana had increased by almost 20%, increasing the worrying on the high rates of student-to-teacher ratio.

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), earlier hinted it may be compelled to suspend its services if the situation continues.

Government recently approved the recruitment of about one thousand teachers to the various tertiary institutions in the country but Professor Oduro Owusu said government must give universities the free hands to employ more staff.

“Basically in the universities, people are employed based on their expertise. So if someone who teaches algebra retires or passes on, you don’t expect me, an entomologist to go and teach algebra. It will demand that we have an algebraist to go and teach algebra. This is the understanding that people in authority would have to get and grant us some leverage to be able to employ,” he said. 

He noted that “If things continue like this for some time, I am afraid our system might grand to a halt. Because if you have very high student-lecture ratios, what it means is that you are reducing the contact hours and the implication of all this is that we will be having less quality products coming out.”

So it has an effect on the quality. So I am hoping that people in authority will understand this simple logic and grant the universities the free hand to employ to fill the gap,” he concluded.

–

By: Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Universities in Ghana face collapse if … – UG Vice Chancellor appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Prof Ghartey Ampiah, is a former Provost of the College of Education Studies and a Professor of Science.

Speaking to deans, heads of department, union leaders and some council members during the handing over ceremony,Prof Kuupole, the outgoing Vice Chancellor,  thanked the University for their support and cooperation during his tenure as the VC.

He described the position as a learning forum, which had adequately prepared him to serve in other capacities in the country.

He admonished the incoming Vice Chancellor to make good use of the pieces of advice that would be offered to him and operate an open door administration for success.

Prof Kuupole further urged the new Vice Chancellor to work hard to ensure that UCC improves and maintains its achievements to further uplift its image.

He asked the University administration to rally behind the incoming Prof Ghartey Ampiah and give him the needed support to make him succeed.

He also expressed hope that students would grow from strength to strength and gave the assurance that he would continue to avail himself to the growth of the University.

Prof Ghartey Ampiah expressed gratitude to the University Governing Council and assured that he would run an open door administration.

He appealed to deans and other members of the University not to sit on the fence but work as a team to realize the UCC dream, adding that his administration would be entrenched on the strategic plan of the University.

Prof Ghartey Ampiah was unanimously elected by the UCC Council on July 30, per the university’s statutes as the new VC.

Before his appointment, he was the Provost of the College of Education Studies.

He is a Science Education Professor and has to his credit dozens of publications recognised both locally and internationally.

Prof Ghartey Ampiah would officially be inducted on October 22.

Professor Kuupole, on the other hand, holds a BA (Hons) in French and a Diploma in Education from the UCC.

He pursued an MPhil and PhD at the Université de Franche-Comté, in France.

Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor in October 2012, he had served in various capacities, including Head of the Department of French, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and National President of the UCC Alumni Association.

He has served the University for ab about 32 years.

–

Source: GNA

The post UCC gets new Vice Chancellor appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Cervical cancer  occurs when the cells at the opening of the womb grows abnormally.

One of the most common symptoms of cervical cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage.

Cervical cancer often affects women at the end of their reproductive years, that is, from 40- 50 years. It can however, also affect adolescent girls.

The causes of cervical cancer include early initiation into sexual activities, and unprotected sex with multiple partners among others.

Research shows that there are approximately 500,000 cervical cancer cases per year, resulting in around 275,000 deaths worldwide.

Of these, 80% occur in developing countries and 25% in Africa.

Hospital data from 1980’s to 1990’s also indicates that 21-28% of all female cancer patients in the Greater Accra region suffered from cervical cancer.

Speaking at a parliamentary reception at the House of Lords held by Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) and the Forum for African First Ladies against breast and cervical cancer, in the UK, Mrs. Mahama said all African first ladies must do all they can to address the issue of cervical cancer.

According to her, the disease is a great challenge to the health of women in Ghana like many other African countries.

The First Lady noted that most women affected by the disease are either not able to get medical treatment or seek medical care too late.

“I have seen women suffering terminally from this disease, their fate stood by the terrible disease,” the First Lady added.

She therefore suggested that vaccines be used as an effective tool to prevent the spread of the disease, adding that “GAVI’s support to immunize girls in Ghana will help them grow into healthy women.”

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghana loses 1,500 women to cervical cancer yearly – First Lady appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.