Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong and Mr. Jeff T. E. Onyame assumed duty as Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of the University respectively on Monday, 3rd August, 2020.
As part of their schedule for the first day in office, the they visited some office holders at the Central Administration and the Colleges to thank them for attending their investiture. They called for their support to build on the solid foundation that has already been laid by their predecessors.聽
Pro Vice-Chancellor
Interacting with the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh, the Vice-Chancellor noted that she was one of the key officers they would be working with to manage the University. He called for her support to execute his vision for the University. 鈥淲e look forward to a good working relationship with you and other office holders to reposition 黑料社as an Entrepreneurial University,鈥� he noted.聽
Mr. Onyame said he had no doubt that Prof. Edu-Buandoh was ready to work with them to move the University on a higher pedestal. The Registrar informed the Pro Vice-Chancellor that they would have another interactive session with staff of all directorates and colleges in the University to discuss the vision of the Vice-Chancellor.
Responding, the Pro Vice-Chancellor assured the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of her unflinching support noting that 鈥淲e are all here to serve the University so I will give my maximum support to achieve your vision鈥�.
Director of Finance
The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar continued their tor to聽the Director of Finance, Mrs. Elizabeth Obese.聽The Vice-Chancellor said he would need her maximum cooperation to achieve his vision for the University. He noted that his vision for the University could only be achieved if funds were made available to execute the strategies he had outlined 鈥淲e will need money to accomplish this vision and I will count on you to guide us to follow the laid down procedures,鈥� he noted.
Mrs. Obese thanked the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar for the visit and assured them of a fruitful working relationship.
Director of Internal Audit
At the Directorate of Internal Audit, the Vice-Chancellor told the Director, Mr. Emmanuel P. Owusu that he would be firm and fair in dealing with everybody in the University. He indicated that he would need his advice on financial issues in order to go strictly according to the new Public Financial Management Act, 2016. 聽鈥淚 want to be very transparent in all aspects so the checks and balances should be there to ensure that we are all on the right path,鈥� he indicated.
Mr. Owusu thanked the Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor for the visit and indicated that he would always be there to guide them to take the right decisions in terms of the finances of the University.
Director of Legal Consular and General Services
The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar proceeded to the Directorate of Legal Consular and General Services and were received by the Director, Mrs. Alberta Graham. They asked for her cooperation to steer the affairs of the University.
Mrs. Graham on her part congratulated them and pledged her full support and collaboration to make their tenure of office successful.
Director of Human Resources
The next point of call for the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar was at the office of the Director of Human Resources, Rev. Isaac Baafi Sarbeng. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Directorate of Human Resources was one of the important directorates in the University since all records were at their disposal. Prof. Boampong said he would be transparent, honest, fair, firm, and accountable in his duties as Vice-Chancellor.
Rev. Sarbeng said no office holder in the University worked as an independent person and therefore, the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar should be assured of his loyalty and support.
Director of Public Affairs
From there, the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar visited the Director of Public Affairs, Major Kofi Baah-Bentum (Rtd.) at his office. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Directorate has played a significant role in the visibility of the University and therefore, called on the Director to offer them the needed support to make the activities known to the public. He indicated that the Directorate would be resourced to effectively carry out its mandate effectively.
Major Baah-Bentum said he was humbled by the visit and pledged his loyalty and total support and intimated that whenever he was in doubt he would seek their counsel.
Director聽of Physical Development and Estate Management
The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar proceeded to the Directorate of Physical Development and Estate Management (DPDEM) where they met the Director, Mr. Philip Ntim, and his sectional heads. The Vice-Chancellor noted that in his vision he outlined a number of issues where the services of the Directorate would be needed. He said it was extremely important to improve on the architectural landscape of the University adding that 鈥淒PDEM will feature prominently in what I seek to do and I admonish the Director and his team to work together for us to achieve this鈥�.
The Registrar said they were willing to take the views, suggestions and counsel of everybody so the Director of DPDEM and his team should feel comfortable to discuss issues relating to the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 vision. 鈥淲e all need to stick to the rules and in doing this we will respect your views and together, we can address problems,鈥� he noted.
Mr. Ntim thanked the Vice-Chancellor and noted that he had scheduled a meeting with his team to also draw a plan based on the VC鈥檚 vision. 鈥淲e want to contribute our quota towards achieving this vision for the present and next generation to appreciate what we have done for this University,鈥� he added.
Director of Information and Communication Technology
The Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar also called on the Director of Information and Communication Technology (DICTS), Dr. Regina Gyampoh-Vidogah. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Directorate had enormous role to play especially at a time when educational institutions were resorting to e-learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the Directorate would be equipped further to facilitate teaching, learning, and research in the University.
Dr. Gyampoh-Vidogah said there had been an improvement in the Network Operating Centre, therefore, given the necessary support, the Directorate would be able to operate at its optimum.
Provost of CoDE
From DICTS, the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar visited the Provost of the College of Distance Education (CoDE), Prof. Isaac K. A. Galyuon. Prof. Boampong said CoDE was the college with the highest number of students and there was the need to provide them with the best of services. He said the provost was holding one of the biggest portfolios among all the colleges. 聽He said the provost would be engaged to further discuss how the restructuring of the College could be implemented to ensure that CoDE effectively performed its mandate of providing quality distance education.
In his response, Prof. Galyuon said the competition among universities in distance education was getting very keen but assured that 鈥淭ogether we will put in more effort to maintain UCC鈥檚 position as the pioneer institution in distance education offering quality academic services to students鈥�.
Provost of CANS
From CoDE, the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, ended the 鈥渢hank you鈥� tour for the day at the office of the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. Moses Jojo Eghan and some deans in the College. The Vice-Chancellor said he would need their support to achieve his plan to put up an integrated laboratory to serve the needs of all departments offering science related programmes. He said Science and Technology were controlling the world and stated that 鈥淲e will make a lot of investment in Science and Technology in order to bring out compelling innovations that will solve problems in our country鈥�.
Prof. Eghan thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his interest in establishing Mega laboratories in the University and noted that this was very dear to his heart. 鈥淲e conceived this idea long ago and even introduced it to our sister universities but they have implemented it and we are still here lagging behind because the Science Annex building has not been completed.鈥�