The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, has called on the government, and past students of schools in the Central Region to support the Oguaa Traditional Area to help develop it to assume its former glory as the citadel of knowledge.
He stressed that as past students visit to their alma mata to undertake development projects, they should also consider undertaking similar projects for the Cape Coast traditional area where their schools are situated.
Prof. Eric Nyarko Sampson was delivering a speech as the guest speaker at the launch of the 2023 Oguaa Fetu Afahye on the theme: Celebrating educational institutions for enhancing the image of Oguaa, held at the Centre for National Culture grounds. It was attended by the Chiefs and people of the traditional area presided over by the Omanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II. The Oguaa Fetu Afahye is celebrated on the first Saturday of September by the people of Oguaa, the former capital of Ghana.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson said, the Central Region, particularly Cape Coast has contributed greatly to the development of Ghana, because of the benevolence of the traditional rulers who did not hesitate to release lands for the establishment of schools that have churned out prominent members of society, making strides the world over.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson said, as society gets to know of the great performances of the schools, the town in which the schools are situated grow more popular by the day and also attracts tourists to the place. He cited the recent World University Rankings by Times Higher Education which places the University of Cape Coast (UCC) as No. 1 in Ghana, 4th in West Africa, and 24th in the World.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson said, however that beyond the popularity gained by the town for the great performances of the schools and the products churned out, the schools have also not been spared of the infrastructural deficiencies and threats of encroachment from the town folks worn-out roads and lack of decent jobs.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson, therefore, called on the Education Committee of the Oguaa traditional area to collaborate with its stakeholders at the Metropolitan Assemblies, Schools, and Civil Society to devise innovative strategies to rebuild Cape Coast as the hub for the best second educational institutions in Ghana. Adding that, ‘leaving the task to individuals and private citizens alone would not be enough,’ he stated.
The Omanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, called on parents and guardians to create security and a better future for themselves and their families by investing in the education of their children and wards.
This is because quality education did not depend solely on the output of teachers, but also on the support of parents to enhance teaching and learning.