President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has pledged government’s resolve to soon reclaim encroached lands of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and other public lands in the country.
Speaking at the UCC@60 anniversary grand durbar on Thursday, October 20, the president expressed disappointment over the encroachment of UCC legally acquired lands describing it as most unfortunate and unacceptable.
“I’m informed that almost one-third of the university’s legally acquired lands have been lost to encroachers. This is most unfortunate and unacceptable. I’m saddened by this state of affairs, especially because it’s happening in Cape Coast of all places. The cradle of Ghana’s education. The proverbial Athens of Africa,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo, therefore, cautioned encroachers from such acts saying “government is now prepared to take the necessary steps to reclaim such lands soon. Not only at UCC but also across the country”.
He further charged traditional rulers as well as stakeholders to ensure a complete cessation of the unfortunate activities.
To him, the University should not only be seen as a national asset and an asset for the central region, but also as an asset to the people of Cape Coast.
The University of Cape Coast over the years has been taking steps to halt encroachment on its lands while also co-existing peacefully with its neighboring communities.
Land Preservation
The Vice Chancellor of UCC, prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong in his address at the grand durbar said the preservation of the UCC lands has now more than ever become important as the university is seeking to expand its frontiers.
“In our bid to expand the frontiers of higher education and to produce graduates who are critical thinkers and are able to create jobs for themselves and others, UCC land has become more important than ever and we need to do everything possible to preserve it,” he intimated.
He said in line with the vision of becoming an entrepreneurial university, the university is currently working on designs for the establishment of an industrial park.
Technology Transfer Office
Prof. Nyarko Boampong added that the university is also setting up a technology transfer office as part of the process of strengthening the commercialization, innovation, patenting, and related intellectual property matters of the university.
He, therefore, called on all in the university to play their part in fulfilling the university’s core mandate of teaching, research, and community service.
The Vice-Chancellor said these measures are being undertaken to sustain the achievements gained so far by the University.
Read also: UCC@60: UCC charged to champion efforts to improve Ghana’s economy
Source: Aba Aikins Appah/ATLFMNEWS
