The Managing Director of the Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE), Dr. Deola Naibakelo, has called on Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah to congratulate him on his appointment as Vice-Chancellor.
Dr. Naibakelao, who is currently based in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, was on a routine visit to the Sasakawa Centre to assess their progress of work.
The Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education has been associated with the University for over two decades and has presently established similar facilities in 20 other institutions in nine African countries since its pioneering work in Cape Coast.
Welcoming his guest, Prof. Ampiah commended the Managing Director for his key and pioneering role in establishing the Sasakawa Centre at UCC.
The Sasakawa Centre, according to Prof. Ampiah, has good record and history and therefore charged them to endeavour to break new grounds to meet the changing times in society.
The Department of Agriculture Economics and Extension will soon commence a course in Agribusiness and run it as part of their extension programmes. To this end, Prof. Ampiah urged the Department to ensure that it came to fruition to provide training for those who want to venture into that area.
Buttressing the Vice-Chancellor’s call, Dr. Deola said every programme run by any of the SAFE institutions started from UCC. “SAFE sees Ghana is our Mecca”.
Dr. Deola said the funds programme are now catching up like wildfire since many institutions in Africa were knocking on their doors to be brought on board.
“For UCC we will continue to include and involve you, since you are a mentoring institution for all new ones”.
“This is to show you how huge UCC is to drive the programme in Africa. It is a long- standing relationship that has been established and will continue for a long time to come”.
Present during the courtesy call were the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, Registrar, John Kofi Nyan, Head, Department of Agriculture Economics and Extension, Prof. Festus Annor-Frimpong, a Lecturer at the Department of Agriculture Economics and Extension, Dr. William Ghartey and Ag. Director, Directorate of Public Affairs, Major (retd.) Kofi Baah-Bentum.