FIRST FEMALE VICE-CHANCELLOR INDUCTED AT CAPE COAST VARSITY (SPREAD)

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, has pledged to work with everybody to advance the mission of the university and the country.
She said she was taking office "with a high sense of purpose, a desire for excellence, commitment, discipline, compassion, fairness and dedication to the core mission of the UCC, while being mindful of the complex nature of the responsibility involved in this position".
She gave the assurance in her acceptance speech at her induction as the Vice-Chancellor of the UCC in Cape Coast yesterday.
Prof Opoku-Agyeman, who turns 57 on November 22, this year, is the first Ghanaian woman to be appointed to that position. She succeeds Reverend Prof Emmanuel Adow Obeng, who has completed his tenure of two terms in office.
The occasion was also used to induct the new Registrar, Mr Isaac Ohene, who also takes over from Mr S.K. Ohene.
The new vice-chancellor promised to endeavour to consult widely on key decisions, while being mindful of the ultimate good of the university and the country.
She said the 21st Century had created a global village with new and exciting pathways to the world of learning and that Ghanaian universities needed to rethink a new vision that would effectively tap the huge learning opportunities now placed within the reach of all age groups, especially the young.
She said the new vision, aided by an intellectual leadership, should place the universities at the core of all that the country desired in the fields of teaching and learning, research and a new partnership among the universities, industry and the government.
Prof. Opoku-Agyeman said the universities drove the vision of development, which recognised that learning and skills formed the foundation of the knowledge society, which determines lasting innovation and increased production for the improvement of the living standards of the people.
She said that implied producing a student who was truly professional in every field of human endeavour, was willing to take initiatives and ready to turn challenges into opportunities.
"Such is the mindset I bring to engage the teaching, learning and working environment of the UCC," she added.
She expressed the hope that staff, students and workers would extend the needed co-operation and teamwork to enable her to continue the good works of her predecessors who sacrificed to bring the UCC to its current state.
President John Agyekum Kufuor, in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Trade, Industry and President’s Special Initiatives, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, said by Prof Opoku-Agyeman's appointment, she had broken the jinx surrounding the glass ceiling limiting women’s efforts to higher positions.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah was accompanied by the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic K. Fobih, and the Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur.
President Kufuor said the government, in its quest for women to strive for higher positions, created the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and went further to appoint women to key positions.
He said Prof Opoku-Agyeman's appointment would ginger the younger generation of females to excel in their chosen fields.
He commended the past administration for its work in ensuring the growth of the university.
The Immediate Past Vice-Chancellor, Rev Prof Obeng, expressed the hope that all would give their support to Prof. Opoku-Agyeman to enhance the growth of the university.
The Chancellor of the UCC, Dr Sam Esson Jonah, who performed the induction ceremony, said by her appointment, Prof Opoku-Agyeman had exhibited great courage and refused to accept the status quo which imposed disadvantages on the role of women in all endeavours of life.
He said millions of young women would be emboldened to appreciate that there was no limit to what they could achieve in life, if they were as disciplined, courageous hardworking and determined as Prof Opoku-Agyeman.