Four hundred lecturers of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have received training in Information Communication Technology (ICT) as part of the efforts of the school to ensure effective online teaching and learning.

According to the UCC Chancellor, Dr Sir Sam Jonah, this was imperative considering the Covid-19 situation and its attendant effects on the education sector.

Speaking at the investiture ceremony of Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong on Saturday as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of UCC, the Chancellor disclosed that 400 more faculty members would be trained to improve the quality of online teaching, learning and testing.

Prof Boampong took over the mantle from Professor Joseph Ghartey-Ampiah whose tenure of office ended in July.

Dr Sam Jonah, administered the Oath of Office to Professor Nyarko Boampong before an audience comprising academicians, diplomats, Government officials, traditional rulers, family members, friends and loved ones.

The ceremony was also used to induct the 13th Registrar of the UCC, Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame who took over from Kofi Nyan.

The Chancellor urged the new vice-chancellor to run an inclusive administration to bring all on board to achieve his set goals for the University.

He said the Covid-19 situation required that educational institutions especially universities devised effective means to reach out to their students.

Dr Sam Jonah commended the University’s management for the initiative, noting that online education had become the new way of teaching and learning of which tertiary institutions must adopt to remain competitive.

Prof. Boampong in his address pledged to work diligently and ensure that UCC continued to deliver quality, equitable and inclusive education to its students.

He added that new demand-driven programmes integrated with practical entrepreneurial courses would be introduced and undertake problem-specific research for sustainable development.

He pledged to provide an exemplary academic leadership and operate an all-inclusive governance system to achieve his vision.

Prof Nyarko Boampong expressed gratitude to the University Governing Council for the confidence reposed in him, saying “under my leadership, the University will work to produce ethically responsible graduates with employable and entrepreneurial skills”.

Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Prof Kwesi Yankah, reiterated that universities required the right leadership to be able to fulfill their mandate by carrying out quality and innovative research to meet problems confronting today’s society.

“The numerous challenges facing Africa’s education requires right content of education, appropriate infrastructure, right human resource base, but also requires right leadership,” he stated.

He was hopeful that UCC had found the right leadership in Prof Boampong and his team to steer the affairs of the University towards academic excellence and development.

Mr Kwamena Duncan, the Central Regional Minister, also advised the new Vice Chancellor to work towards sustaining the peace on campus.