The University for Development Studies (UDS) in Dungu mourns Mohammed Zakiu Wunpini, a Level 200 Pharmacy student, who was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the evening of September 25, 2024.
Zakiu’s final funeral rites are scheduled to take place today, September 30, 2024, at Gumani near Oasis Restaurant.
Zakiu, who was preparing to enter his third year of studies, was discovered with multiple stab wounds in an uncompleted building between the Citadel Hostel and Kumbung Hostel on campus.
Initial reports suggest that Zakiu may have been attacked and robbed, as his motorcycle and phone were missing from the scene. According to sources, he had gone out earlier to watch a football match with a friend but failed to return.
In response to the shocking incident, university authorities, including the Vice Dean, Dean of Students, and the Head of Security, convened an emergency meeting and later visited the regional police office on Friday to follow up on the ongoing investigation.
The tragic death has left the UDS campus in a state of shock and deep mourning as students and staff await further updates on the investigation.
The Ghana Tertiary Education Committee (GTEC) has instructed all universities to stop operating satellite campuses located on Senior High School (SHS) premises and other unauthorized sites.
This directive comes as GTEC deems such activities unlawful, as these universities are operating beyond their accredited facilities.
Head of GTEC’s Institutional Accreditation Department, Harry Kwame Opoku, revealed in an interview with Citi News that several universities, including the University of Cape Coast, have begun to comply with the directive.
“It has come to the attention of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission that public institutions are operating campuses at the premises of senior high schools, junior high schools, and non-tertiary centres, non-tertiary institutions, the centres of non-tertiary institutions, which we thought was bringing out the quality of education.
“So when this came to our attention we invited the vice-chancellors of these institutions to talk and find a way out of this problem.
They have done so by signing a memorandum of understanding to ensure they adhere to the order.
“So what we did was to give some MoU for the vice-chancellors to come over and sign toward cessation of this activity. So what we have done is that for students who have already been admitted to these centres, they will be sorted out.”
Harry Kwame Opoku added that “We are going to give them a four-year plan to teach the students. We have directed that these institutions do not admit or do not engage in fresh admission of students. We are also going to conduct an academic audit based on all the expenses.”
Indian authorities have recently entered into an agreement with Tanzania to establish a worldwide branch of the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Zanzibar.
This initiative marks the first international expansion of the IIT Madras campus.
The institute is scheduled to commence operations in October of this year, initially accommodating 50 graduate students and 20 Master’s students.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar hailed this development as a momentous milestone.
The IIT, renowned for its academic excellence, boasts multiple campuses throughout India and is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading educational institutions.
Authorities of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Oyo state, Nigeria, have prohibited students from entering the campus with their vehicles, following a meeting held on March 22, 2023, to address the rising incidents of motor traffic accidents on campus.
In the memo released on April 19, 2023, the registrar, Dr. K. A. Ogunleye, outlined several instructions that would be implemented immediately.
Students are prohibited from bringing their vehicles onto campus, while vehicles without registration numbers are also barred. Roadside parking of vehicles is no longer allowed, and authorized vehicles are to be removed from campus immediately.
“Vehicles owned by students are hereby banned from entering the university campus, vehicles with no registration numbers are no longer allowed into the campus, roadside parking of vehicles should stop forthwith, all authorised vehicles parked at various positions in the university should be taken out with immediate effect,” the statement read.
Additionally, tinted vehicles used by staff or students are now prohibited, and beginner drivers must display learner permits on their vehicles.
All those who fail to comply with the new regulations, according to the university, will face sanctions. Furthermore, university security personnel will take appropriate action against unauthorized vehicles parked on campus.
“Failng which university security will take appropriate action on such vehicles.
This decision is expected to enhance the safety of students, staff, and visitors by reducing the number of motor traffic accidents on the LAUTECH campus.
The President Akufo-Addo, has stated that government is prepared to take the necessary steps in reclaiming all state lands including University of Cape Coast (UCC) lands that have been encroached on by developers across the country.
He explained that, one-third of the UCC’s legally acquired land for instance had been taken over by encroachers, saying, “This is unacceptable.”
President Akufo-Addo said this at a durbar held at the campus of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to climax the 60th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the University.
He inaugurated a number of facilities namely, the School of Graduate Studies Building, a six-storey guest house and School of Medical Sciences Auditorium and adjoining facilities.
The anniversary was on the theme: “60 years of quality higher education: expanding the frontiers.”
President Akufo-Addo said: “I am saddened with this state of affairs especially because it is happening in Cape Coast of all places, the cradle of Ghana’s education system”
He, therefore, called on the chiefs and people of the area to ensure cessation of this unfortunate activities, saying, “We must begin to see the university not only as a national asset and asset of the Central Region but most importantly also as an asset of the people of Cape Coast in particular.”
Touching on the current economic challenges, he said, graduates of UCC and Ghanaians in general, should continue to be inspired by the patriotic endeavours showed by members of the Aborigines RightS Protection Society which was founded in Cape Coast which ensured indigenous ownership of landS as they were threatened by European colonialists.
“It is this same example of patriotic endeavour, this same spirit of determination and tenacity by the Aborigines that we must summon up today to enable us navigate the current difficult headwinds that have engulfed the economy of our country so that we must come out stronger and more empowered than we were before to continue our journey towards our destiny of prosperity and freedom,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo commended the UCC for the feat it had chalked over the years and therefore charged management to ensure that the institution remain pure and unadulterated un the provision of quality academic and intellectual discourse and in finding solution to complex and far-reaching problems across borders and disciplines.
He expressed anticipation of witnessing products of the University making positive impact and building a strong and distinctive workforce in Ghana, West Africa and across the world.
He further urged management, staff, students and stakeholders to put their shoulders to the wheel to ensure further development and transformation of the University.
He noted that the achievement of UCC over the years had been remarkable as it was reflected in considerable growth of faculty, students and infrastructure.
He gave an assurance of his commitment towards redeeming a pledge made last year of supporting the construction of students’ accommodation facility for the University.
“I acknowledge the need for further expansion of infrastructure to meet current demands and support for the free SHS initiative of this administration,” he said.
He said, the current administration would offer the needed support to expand its infrastructure for the benefit of the numerous senior high school graduates who now qualify to access university education yearly.
The government, he said, would not renege on its commitment in providing quality education and equal opportunities for future generations to have a good education.
“Regardless of the difficulties currently confronting our nation, government will continue to intervene and remain responsible for the provision of free and quality basic and secondary education for all,” he indicated.
He noted that education was the key to the development of any country and said his administration’s commitment to the Free SHS remains unshaken.
The Vice Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Johnson NyarkoBoampong, in his address, appealed to the government for financial clearance to recruit additional staff to compliment the efforts of the overstretched academic staff.
The University, he said, was currently pursuing international institutional accreditation exercise and said, it would ultimately enhance the process to increase the competitiveness of UCC.
He indicated that the University was pursuing a creative path to transform UCC into a world class competitive entrepreneurial university.
The Chancellor of UCC, Sir Sam Essuon Jonah, in his address, underscored the need for the University to be innovative in the training of students in order for them to meet the changing global demand.
He urged the School of Agriculture to lead the way in coming out with better yielding crop varieties in ensuring increase in crop production.
The Central University chapter of the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) swore in new Executives for the 2022/2023 academic year on Sunday, October 2, 2022, at the University’s Christ Temple campus.
The names of the executives are Mr. Eugene Senumape Adonu, President; Mr. Wisdom Agorsor, Vice President; Mr. Mensah Gademor, General Secretary; Mr. Emmanuel Yaw Marb-Organizer; Mr. Saviour Ahiataku, Financial Secretary and Ms. Nana Ama Frimpomaa, Women’s Commissioner.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Gloria Dzeha, Dean of Students at the University, Dr. Evans Sokro, GRASAG Patron, and Mr. Emmanuel Owusu, GRASAG National PRO, who presented Mr. Thomas Elorm Tagbortor, GRASAG National President.
In her speech, Dr. Gloria Dzeha charged the new executives with creating programs that are relevant to the needs of graduate students. She emphasized the importance of publicizing GRASAG programs and activities as a means of projecting the Central University Graduate School.
Mr. Abednego Quarshie, the outgoing President, thanked his team for their cooperation and unity, as well as the Dean of Students and the GRASAG Patron for their immense support during their tenure. Some of his administration’s accomplishments included uniting and coordinating graduate students from the three University campuses; Miotso, Christ Temple, and Kumasi, and producing some souvenirs to generate revenue for GRASAG activities.
Mr. Eugene Senumape Adonu, President of GRASAG, congratulated the outgoing President, Mr. Abednego Quashie, and his team on their commendable efforts, dedication, and commitment to making GRASAG Central University vibrant during their tenure.
He also emphasized the importance of graduate education, saying, “Mr. Chairman, Graduate students form a unique group of individuals who defy all odds to pursue further education in the quest to gain knowledge that can transform their lives, careers, and the country.”
He assured the audience that his administration will ensure the continuation of previous projects started by his predecessors and improve GRASAG’s image on campus and beyond.
Dr. Evans Sokro, the patron, also congratulated the outgoing and new executives. He advised the executives not to let their leadership responsibilities interfere with their course work because that was the primary reason they were in school. He assured the executives of his unwavering support and his availability for consultation on their intended programs.
Mr. Emmanuel Owusu the GRASAG National PRO delivered a speech on behalf of the National President, Mr. Tagbortor. In his speech, he hinted at projects the national secretariat is currently working on to benefit postgraduate students in Ghana.
Some of these projects include; a Laptop Project with unlimited data for academic work, job opportunities for postgraduate students through a private HR firm, and the recently rolled out Graduate Research Trust Fund.
This fund will sponsor policy-oriented research for national development. He also encouraged the new executives to be involved in the activities of GRASAG National.
The program ended with the Dean of Students, the Patron, outgoing executives, and some key University staff receiving awards and citations.
The Principal of Agogo Presbyterian Women’s College of Education (APWC), Rev. Dr Mrs Grace Sintim Adasi, has made a passionate appeal to philanthropists, NGOs and entrepreneurs to intervene in the security situation at Agogo Presbyterian Women’s College which has been occasioned by land encroachments and the lack of adequate residential facilities on the campus.
Speaking to the media at the launch of the Homecoming and Maiden Founders’ Day ceremony under the theme ‘Enhancing the Presbyterian values through the provision of Quality female Teacher Education’, the principal indicated that due to the encroachment on the school lands, which has resulted in a merger of the indigenous community and the student body of the school, a serious security situation exists and needs to be addressed urgently.
She also said the students are unsafe on campus because they do not have enough walls around the school compound.
The Principal further stated that the College would appreciate the construction of a 24-seater toilet plus disability friendly facilities on campus by Ghana Gas.
