The Alumni Association of the School for Development Studies (SDS) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has officially been launched, to contribute to the development of the school and the nation.

The UCC-SDS Alumni Association, would be a network for mentorship, collaboration, and learning to help harness the expertise of members, to drive national development and support the university.

Among other interventions, the Association would raise funds for several development projects, lead digital innovations for academic work, and support postgraduate training, research, and capacity building for members and the school.

Mr Stephen Adjei, the pioneering President of the Association, said an alumnus was an indispensable part of the university community, as their professional experiences and expertise were needed to drive the progress of the institution.

He stated that the past students of the University had the duty to actively involve themselves in the development of the School for Development Studies.

“We must build a network that inspires, empowers, and elevates every member, making a tangible difference in society,” he said.

The launch of the Association also featured a roundtable discussion on the economy themed: “Monetary policy responses to exchange rate volatility in Ghana: Implications for cost of living.”

Dr Philip Abradu-Otoo, the Director of Research at the Bank of Ghana (BoG), underscored the need for urgent structural reforms to address bottlenecks in the Ghanaian economy, to build resilience for the country’s currency.

He highlighted the dire impact of excessive volatility of the currency on inflation, pricing behaviour and the cost of living, urging practical interventions that would boost the real economy, promote increase export activities and build more foreign reserves.