The Cape Coast Learning Centre of the School of Continuing and Distance Education, College of Education, has embarked on a number of activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the University of Ghana. The activities aimed to publicize the presence of the University in the region, and also to serve as a way of giving back to society.
The celebration started with a thanksgiving service at the Church of Pentecost, OLA Central Assembly, with staff and students of the Centre in attendance. In an address, the Head of Centre, Dr. Hayford Mensah Ayerakwa spoke about the various courses on offer at the Centre, and encouraged the general public to take full advantage of the opportunity to add value to themselves. He also used the occasion to encourage members of the congregation and the youth in particular to save and invest.
The Centre also embarked on tree planting exercises with two basic schools in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem (KEEA) Municipality; the Nkontrodo AME Zion Basic School and the Ntranoa Methodist Junior High School. At Nkontrodo AME Zion Basic School, the exercise was used to provide a boundary for the school’s land which was being encroached upon, as well as provide shade for the pupils. The exercise at the Ntranoa Methodist JHS was to provide shade for pupils and teachers at the school.
Officers from the Forestry Commission, chiefs or their representatives, head teachers, teachers and pupils from the two schools, as well as tutors, staff and students of the Cape Coast Learning Centre all took part in the tree planting exercise.
Girls Prefect (AME Zion) preparing to plant her tree on behalf of female pupils at the school
The chief of Ntranoa requested the team to plant a tree at his palace as a memorial of the University’s 70th anniversary celebrations. This was honoured and two trees were planted accordingly.
Dr. Ayerakwa encouraged members of the community to be concerned about the environment and treat it with care, and to take an active part in protecting the environment. He bemoaned the state of deforestation across the country and called on all to cultivate the habit of planting trees to commemorate various milestones in their lives. He further charged management and pupils of the two schools to ensure that the planted trees are properly cared for.
Dr. Ayerakwa explaining a point to the students
Dr. Ayerakwa encouraged the pupils to take their studies seriously and become responsible citizens in society. He was hopeful that in the next 10-15 years, many of the pupils would be in various tertiary institutions pursuing various vocations. This he said will only remain a dream if they did not devote time to their books.
An excited Boys Prefect (AME Zion) planting a tree
Mrs. Doris Osahene of the Forestry Commission, encouraged the pupils to be friends of the environment, and assured the gathering of the Commission’s willingness to supply and support any organization which desires to plant trees. She also assured the University of the Forestry Commission’s willingness to take up the challenge of monitoring the planted trees to ensure that they are properly maintained.
The 70th anniversary celebration at Cape Coast was climaxed with a clean-up exercise at the Centre which saw both staff and students play active roles. The Students Representative Council (SRC) planted a tree at the Centre to commemorate the anniversary.
Mr. Zakaria Yamba Gatoni, Senior Organizer at Cape Coast Learning Centre planting a tree
SRC executives planting a tree at the Cape Coast Learning Centre