The Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II Dr. (H.C), has assured his commitment to resolving the land litigation between the University of Cape Coast and its surrounding communities.
He made this solemn pledge during a special congregation organized by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to confer on him an Honorary Doctor of Laws, LLD (Honoris Causa).
According to the Oguaamanhen, there is a need to bring finality to this long-standing impasse between UCC and neighbouring communities.
“Hopefully within the next week or so we will sit down and see how it will go. But I want to assure you that I will spend all the time available to me to make sure that whatever it is that is bothering the smooth academic teaching and peaceful existence of this institution, I will do whatever I have to,” he said.
Related stories: UCC@60: Prez Akufo Addo vows to protect UCC and other public lands,
UCC: About 900 acres of UCC’s lands encroached,
Kwaprow Chief’s threat in reclaiming UCC lands disturbing, security agencies must act- UCC
The Paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area also spoke on the recent general decline of performances in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) of students from Cape Coast.
He therefore assured of working with the university and all relevant stakeholders to nurture and teach students in elementary schools as part of the measures to salvage Cape Coast from losing its image as a citadel of education.
To him, the BECE results of students within the metropolis must change for the better.
“And the only way we can do that is to get expertise, especially from the university, to assist us… I have about four sub-chiefs who are education-biased. So, I will get them involved, we will form a committee, and immediately we will start working so that at least the name of Cape Coast being an educational hub will not die,” he said.
Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, Dr. (H.C), further assured of instituting an award scheme for the best-graduating accountant students of the university with a cash prize of two thousand Ghana Cedis (2,000) each year.
Speaking at the congregation, the vice chancellor of UCC, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong described the honorary ceremony to confer on the Osabarima, Doctorate of Laws, LLD as significant as ‘it is the first time the university community is publicly acknowledging the contribution of our landlord’.
He noted that the contribution of traditional rulers and chiefs to the advancement of African societies have long been acknowledged and in most cases celebrated, although the place of traditional rulers in modern democratic governance is still a subject of debate.
He indicated that it is increasingly clear that traditional rulers play an important role in the lives of many Africans.
“In many countries, traditional rulers play a preeminent role as mediators of violent conflict and champion community development and transformation.
The vice chancellor therefore assured that UCC will continue to honour any deserving traditional ruler.
Read also: Osabarima Kwesi Atta II receives Honorary Doctorate of Laws, LLD from UCC
Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
