#UCCDecides : Nominations Open For SRC, L/NUGS & JCRC Positions

Nominations have been opened for various positions at the Students' Representative Council [SRC], Local chapter of the National Union of Ghana Students [L/NUGS] and the Junior Common Room Committee [JCRC] of the University of Cape Coast [UCC].

The positions at the UCC - SRC include:
President and Vice President
Secretary
Coordinating Secretary
Public Relations Officer
General Sports Secretary
Treasurer

Positions at the Local NUGS office include:
President
Secretary
Women's Commissioner [WUCOM]
Positions at the JCRC include:
President and Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Organizer
SRC Representative [Rep 1 & Rep 2]

Turnout at the 2017 elections was ten thousand two hundred and sixty nine [10,269], a short fall of four hundred and thirty-one votes compared to the 2016 election.

ATL FM - CBS brings you updates on electoral process, various halls, SRC and L/NUGS aspirants throughout the 2018 elections. Follow the #UCCDecides on social media.

Source : ATLFMONLINE

“Universities should aim at societal development”- UCC Pro VC

Pro-Vice Chancellor of University of Cape Coast, Professor George K.T Oduro, has challenged the various universities in Ghana to implement initiatives which are aimed at developing society.

According to him, most of the initiatives implemented and monitored by the African societies are done with the welfare of the investors in mind, without due consideration to the contribution of the project to the development of the society.

“ We cannot talk about sound economic development of the nation without talking about the role of water and hygiene because we need healthy people to run this economy and make it healthy. I also want to say that universities have come to stage were we cannot do things without careful consideration to what happens in our environment. It does appear that Ghanaians and for that matter, Africans monitor and evaluate projects to satisfy our funders but in addition to satisfying the demands, we also have to consider how it is contributing to our development”.

Speaking at the opening session of a five-day workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation of Water Sanitation and Hygiene Systems
(WASH) organized by the Department of Chemistry of University of Cape Coast, for representatives from five Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, Professor Oduro commended the initiative and encouraged other universities to emulate this act.

He further urged representatives from the participating MMDAs to develop an intricate commitment to the workshop to effectively implement the skills acquired from the workshop in their various MMDAs.

Present for the workshop were representatives from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Sunyani Municipal Assembly and Abura Aseibu Kwamankese District.

The workshop is under the theme, Gender Sensitive Monitoring and Evaluation of Wash Activities and Services.

ATL FM NEWS

81% of Law Students failed 2017 Bar Examination

A total of 206 law students are to repeat the entire course after failing the final Bar exams at the Ghana School of Law.

Another 177 students have been referred in one or two papers, Myjoyonline.com has learnt.
This represents 81% failure for 2017.
Out of 474 students who sat for the 2017-2018 final exams, only 91 students representing 19% were deemed to have passed and will be called to the Bar.

The mass failure by the students comes at a time Parliament is seeking to legalize the entrance exams and interview processes instituted as part of the admission procedures into the Ghana School of Law.

The General Legal Council, the body that oversees legal education and profession in Ghana has mounted a vehement defence for the maintenance of entrance exams.
It argues the exams and interviews are to ensure higher standards in legal education.
But Chief crusader against the entrance exams Prof Kwaku Asare insists the entrance exams and interviews at the Ghana School of Law are illegal.

At the moment, there is an LI in Parliament currently going through a mandatory 21-day period before it will mature into law.
If members of the House are unable to raise two-thirds majority to kick against the LI it will automatically mature into law.
Meanwhile, critics of the entrance exams say the mass failure at the Bar exams is just one example of why the status quo must be abolished.

“The madness of the unruly GLC continues unabated as only 91 out of 474 LLB graduates are deemed qualified to be called to the Bar.
“One more proof that the entrance examinations and interviews are not just illegal and unethical but they are also entirely non-diagnostic.

That is, the argument that they are designed to select quality graduates must fail on this performance report.
“Further, this is proof that the Bar exam is a poor assessment tool or that the Ghana School of Law is incapable of training LLB graduates or both.
“Think about it —— only 91 out of the 1,200 law graduates in this cohort are being called to the Bar!!!!” Prof Asare said on his facebook wall.

Credit :Myjoyonline.com

Be Mindful Of What You Eat– Food Science Scholar

A Professor of food science at the Department of Vocational and Technical Education [VOTEC] of the University of Cape Coast [UCC] Sarah Darkwa is calling on the general public to place utmost priority on their food choice since that can benefit or harm them.

Professor Darkwa says Ghanaians should consider going back to indigenous foods and condiment because they contain better nutritional values than most of the foreign and other packaged food products.
She added that there are some nutrients which are contained in artificial condiments which if not avoided or taken in minute quantities may put individual health at a high risk of a system failure.

Professor Darkwa made the call while delivering her inaugural address on the topic:
Food Science; A Sweet Killer of Nutritional Well Being, at the University of Cape Coast.
She said as individuals, “it is important to be good custodians of our bodies”, adding “whatever we take in as food, be it small or large, we need to ensure that it will promote good health in our body”.

Stressing on the use of spices and condiments, Prof Darkwa said consumers need to make the right choice in order to avert health implications.
“Spices and condiments are used in our everyday cooking to add taste, flavor and sometimes colour to food. But are we taking the natural spices or the artificial condiments that are usually parked with monosodium glutamine, sodium chloride and preservatives?
When our grandmothers and mothers passed on, they took away the natural condiments such as ‘prekese’, onions, which they cooked with when some of us were growing up. This generation and that of our children have shifted completely from using the natural spices our mothers used to all kinds of artificial spices and condiments which in our minds makes the food sweet, but in reality, behind the sweetness, kills us slowly”. Prof. Darkwa bemoaned.

According to her, there is the need for consumers to check the nutritional values of packaged food products in order to make a well informed decision about what they take in. She also stressed on the need for food producers to adhere to strict hygienic conditions in their production process to prevent contamination.

Prof. Darkwa further revealed that, there are some natural food product in Ghana which has rich nutritional values, but are often relegated to the background at the expense of importing foreign ones that drain state coffers and possess health threat to consumers especially infants.

She said “the orange flesh sweet potato, provides high level of vitamin A to women and young children. Just one small balled roots provides 100% of the recommended daily dosage of vitamin ‘A’”.

She added that “in Ghana, infants, during their postnatal visits, are giving drops of vitamin ‘A’, imported into Ghana with hard earned money. This orange fleshed sweet potato is very rich in vitamin ‘A’ and it could help our income”.

Professor (Mrs.) Sarah Darkwa with her family
Professor (Mrs.) Sarah Darkwa until her inaugural lecture, elevating her to the status of a full Professor has taught courses in Food Science, Nutrition and Environmental Science since 2000.

She holds a BSc in Agriculture Science from the University of Ghana, an MPhil in Food Science from the University of Ghana and a PhD in Environmental Science, specializing in the area of Environmental systems and Risk Management from the State University of New York in the USA.

She has taught and successfully supervised many undergraduate students’ projects and theses. Her research interests are in Food Science, Nutrition and Health, and Environmental Systems and Risk Management.
Prof Darkwa served as the Head of department of the Vocational and Technical Education from 2010 to 2013 and is currently the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology Education Studies of the University of Cape Coast.

Source : Kojo Dei & Joseph Amoah / ATL FM NEWS

UMaT renamed George Grant University of Mines and Technology

President Akufo-Addo has officially renamed the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) to the George Grant University of Mines and Technology, after the first President of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC).

The Tarkwa-based tertiary institution was renamed on Friday, January 12, 2018 at a special congregation held at the school to install former President John Kufuor as its Chancellor.

Kufuor, who commissioned the school back in August 2005, will be its first Chancellor.
President Nana Addo, who announced the renaming of the university, said: “It is only fitting that this great modest man who can lay a legitimate claim of being the father of modern Ghanaian nationalist should be properly honoured by a grateful posterity by us who are heirs of the freedom he so violently fought for especially by the citizens of this great Western Region.”

“I appreciate the special moment this will be for me, a descendant of all the myriad of persons who assembled at Saltpond under his president , the lost United Gold Coast Convention UGCC on that fateful Saturday 4th August 1947 when the power of Ghanaian freedom and independence was nominated to be the president who will have the privilege to assent to this decision,” he added.

Chairman of the University’s Council, Dr. Stephen S. Yirenkyi, in his address pleaded with the President Akufo-Addo to allocate funds to the school for the completion of legacy projects, incompletion is impeding teaching and learning.

“I humbly request that the President commits adequate funds for the expansion of this University for the completion the uncompleted projects which are fast deteriorating,” he said.
While calling on the government and the University Staff to support Kufuor govern the school, Dr. Yirenkyi noted that the new Chancellor had an enormous task to enable the institution “continue to stand tall.”

“Today the University is seeing a new phase. The Chancellor has an enormous responsibility to make this University continue to stand tall and maintain its positions as the best public-funded University in Ghana. I am also optimistic that he will be given the needed support by the President and his government, Captains of the mining and the allied industries and rank and file of the university to make his work as the chancellor a pleasant one,” he said.
Originally known as the Tarkwa Technical Institute in 1952 when it was first established, the school became a fully fledged University in November 2004 by an Act of Parliament (Act 677).

About George Grant

George Alfred Grant, popularly known as Paa Grant was a merchant and politician.
As a political activist, he was a founder and the first president of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) in 1947.

Grant was educated at Wesleyan School in Cape Coast and through private tuition given by Joseph D. Abraham, a wealthy merchant friend of his father’s.

Grant was subsequently employed in the timber trade, first at Axim and then for five years in the Ivory Coast.
In 1896, he established his own firm, George Grant and Company.He prospered as a timber merchant, with a flourishing export business, at a time when the trade was dominated by European companies.

In 1926 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, representing Sekondi. Grant was also a member of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society and was instrumental in many development projects including introducing street lighting and pipe-borne water to Sekondi and Axim.

Anas exposes ‘rogue ’ Police officers in latest documentary

Ace Investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas has finally released his latest undercover report which exposes some dishonest police officers in Ghana.
Dubbed “Bad Cops”, the latest investigative piece which is the last part of the Tiger Eye PI’s “Ghana’s Soul Takers” documentary, reveals the role some police personnel play in the various forms of chaos that happens on Ghana’s roads.

‘Ghana’s Soul Takers’ which aims at uncovering the artificial causes of avoidable deaths and carnage on roads in the country looked at the rot at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, and how officials procure license for cripples, madmen, minors, among others for cash.

The about one-hour documentary details how some miscreants among the Police Service use their job to perpetrate wrongful acts that go against the mandate and principles of the Service
The last investigative piece by Anas shook the foundations of the Judiciary after some notable Judges were caught on tape taking bribe or allowing themselves to be induced.

These went a long way to influence the judgement of their cases and in some cases letting wrongdoers go without the law taking its course.

The new full video documentary released by Anas on the police, however, is geared towards creating road safety awareness and responsibilities among the general Ghanaian public and especially the Police MTTU

Source: Ghanaweb.com

UCC security officer murders ex-lover after raping her on Christmas Eve

A University of Cape Coast security officer is in the grip of the police for allegedly raping and killing his ex-girlfriend on the Eve of Christmas.

Adolf Coffie, 45, reportedly dragged the 32-year-old woman identified as Maame Serwaa into the bush where he raped her and hit her with an object after the sexual encounter.

The tragic incident happened at Kwapro near Ankaful in the Central Region, Joy News’ Richard Kwadwo Nyarko reported Friday.

A hunter who happened to be on his usual expedition reportedly heard the scream of the woman and rushed to the scene.
He threatened to kill Adolf if the woman was not rushed to the hospital, the police say.

The security officer abandoned Serwaa on the roadside and bolted.
Seeing what Adolf had done, the hunter reportedly rushed to her aid but she passed out after she gave details of the suspect.

The police subsequently arrested Adolf and charged him with murder.
He has since been remanded into police custody by a Cape Coast High Court pending further investigations and due to reappear on January 9, 2018.

Adolf, a father of five, is said to have been engaged as a security officer about a decade ago at the University of Cape Coast.

Spokesperson of the police in the Region, ASP Irene Oppong told Joy News they have retrieved some items from the residence of Adolf, which the police believe will provide a useful lead in their investigations.

Credit: Myjoyonline

Headmaster impregnates 16 year old student at Akim Oda

The Assistant Headmaster of St Francis Senior High Technical at Akim Oda in the Eastern region is reported to have impregnated a 16-year student of the school.

The assistance headmaster, Mr Vincent Otoo, has been lusting after the teenager since her appearance in the school thus luring her into a secret relationship.
The victim whose name is only given as Abigail is seven months pregnant after being in secret relationship with Mr Otoo since a year now.

It is also established that the suspect together with some teachers was trying to cover the issue to make the student give birth at home instead of the hospital.
The news which is being rumoured in the school, according to a close source indicated that a tutor in the school who doubles as Elder, Mr Obenu, led a delegation to the pregnant student family’s house to settle the matter at home.

It is confirmed that the parent who rejected the headmaster’s request, sent them away from their house.
The Senior House Master of the school, Mr Theodore, who confirmed the alleged pregnancy of the 16-year-old student, stated that investigations were still ongoing to come out with the true husband of the victim’s pregnancy.

Meanwhile, some of the students who shared their views on the issue indicated categorically that, they wouldn’t be surprised if the situation was true.

According to them, Abigail was not the first victim, as Mr Otoo had been luring a lot of the “girls into sex, all in the name of money and good grades.”

Source : Adomonline.com

22-year-old university student produces paper-made bricks

A 22-year-old university student has been adjudged as winner of the Young Icon category at the 2nd Kwame Nkrumah African Genius Awards after amazingly producing bricks made of paper.

Elijah was born to Ghanaian parents, but currently resides in South Africa where he studies Industrial Engineering at a university.

The young innovator rose to prominence after producing a type of brick made from paper in an attempt to help solve South Africa’s waste and housing problems.

According to him, the realization that the country has been struggling with paper waste management, as well as affordable housing, inspired him to bring forth this innovation.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Elijah explained that the idea of producing paper-made bricks, known as ‘nubrix’, started when he was a child.

In fact, as early as 11 years, he already had plans of finding a way to make housing in South Africa cheaper, which ultimately led to the invention of his innovation.

“New bricks came back in primary school when I was 11 years old. Back then I was very passionate about Science. When I was in Grade 6 my dad used to burn his old photocopy text books and this was the time during global warming and me, being the scientist thought of something to do,” he narrated.

He added: “In about a few days later, one of the TV programmes was poaching one of the shortest of RDP housing in South Africa and RDP housing is a form of cheaper housing by the government.

“So I said let’s see if I could use a paper to help cellutape this [papers] so I did different tests, different ratios of different stuff, different methodologies of how we can turn the paper into bricks and use that whole scientific process.”

Elijah is confident that if the world should adopt the use of paper-made bricks, then global warning could as well be reduced because waste will be put to effective use, instead of being burned.

He is, therefore, seeking official certification from a regulatory body in order to be able to put his innovation on the market for sale.

According to him, his paper-made bricks are weather resistant and have the ability to stand harsh conditions.

The wondrous nature of Elijah’s innovation led to him winning the Young Icon category at this year’s Kwame Nkrumah African Genius Awards held in Accra.

His innovation was also selected as one of the best during the first Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) held on African soil early in 2017.

Credit: Citifmonline

The Need To Post University Teacher Trainees To The Classroom, The Government Must Hear This!!

Policies come with projections and in this same direction, comes the success of such policies.

Ghana is bent on alleviating poverty through the introduction of social intervention policies and such example of a policy is the free Education policy, which offers most parents, the opportunity to educate their wards to even as far as the second cycle level, and most children, the opportunity to enjoy second cycle education for free.

To support this policy requires structures, both the human and structural resources.

But it appears the issues of teacher deficit is still on the rise and it is indeed not the best for a country like Ghana.

Educational courses in the Universities are a great impact on the policy since it is this very level at which we can even and also be more efficient.

Teaching is a gift as many believe. And this justifies the reason why many people could think of no other profession than teaching, in which they find joy, devoid of the compensation conditionalities.

One may wonder how it feels to be in the University, in anticipation of impacting knowledge into society, only to complete and realise the fact that, there are no ready jobs for such people.

One could even wonder what one goes through in the University just in a bid to acquire a first degree in Education in an anticipation to impact knowledge into society just for the sake of social and economic development.

In the recent budget read before parliament by the honourable minister for finance, Ghana, as it stands, have a teacher deficit of seventy thousand (70, 000). At this time and period of the free education policy, we should have even had a lower teacher deficit if only we want the resources positioned.

Our only question is, are the University teacher trainees not qualified to fill such positions of teacher deficit ....?

The government must employ teacher trainees if only they are committed to the Free Education Policy and bent on reducing graduate unemployment because we, the University teacher trainees believe that employment of this very category of unemployed graduates in question is also a step geared towards reducing and curbing graduates unemployment.

We, the students of the University of Education Winneba and its affiliated campuses, the University for Development Studies also with its sister campuses, the University of Cape Coast and other Universities with educational specialisation(s), hereby present our justifications before the Government.

We also call on other schools to join and support our coalition. It is our hope that government takes a critical look at this development and we will by this make moves to further remind the government of our plights if we did not see any change in our favour.

.......Signed...........
Ebenezer Fokuo Mensah
University of Education, Winneba (Alumni)
Enoch Ansah P1
University of Education, Winneba
Joseph Arthur
University of Education Winneba

The Second Semester Calendar for 2017/2018 academic year