Hundreds of UCC past students gathered at the Aviation Social Centre in Accra for the maiden Alumni Reconnect. The colourful event, aimed at strengthening the linkages between the University and its alumni, brought together past students who completed the University in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and the 2000s. The programme, put together by the Institutional Advancement Office (IAO), witnessed variety of events and games, including UCC Parliamentary sitting, live band music, photo exhibition, experience sharing and networking. Another attraction was Agrofie show, hosted by Mr. David Dontoh, where participants from the four traditional halls engaged in mental gymnastics. As usual, the vociferous past members of “Jama” Groups of Casely Hayford and Atlantic Halls spiced up the event with tons of melodious “moral songs” amidst dancing and waving of hall flags, as some alumni remained on the sidelines feeling nostalgic about their heydays at the University. Addressing the ceremony, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T. Oduro, conveyed to the alumni the warmest greetings of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, who is outside the country for an official duty. He acknowledged the fact that alumni play a key role in advancing the University’s external agenda, which include reputation and funding. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor stressed that success and contributions of alumni define the future positions and ranking of the University and added that the University would not downplay the relevance of the alumni association in the discharge of its mandate. Accordingly, he reminded them not to hesitate to make meaningful inputs, contributions and suggestions towards repositioning the University in its untiring efforts to acclaim recognition worldwide. Clad in his UCC branded Alumni Reconnect shirt, Prof. Oduro indicated that between March 2016 and May 2017, the University inaugurated International Chapters of the UCC Alumni Association in Canada, UK and the USA. Prof. Oduro used the occasion to mention the remarkable developments on campus at both the administration and management levels, including the implementation of the Collegiate Systems and the upgrade of Divisions into Directorates. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, who inspected a parade mounted in his honour, entreated the alumni to take advantage of the yearlong academic programmes -regular, sandwich and distance- offered by the University to enhance their professional knowledge and skills. He further enumerated some income-generating ventures set up by the University to complement the financial support from the government. For his part, the Coordinator of IAO, Mr. Solomon Faakye, took the alumni through the successes chalked up by the University since its inception in the 60s. He said the objectives of the IAO which was inaugurated in 2015, “is to maintain a database of Alumni, project fundraising as a key source of resource mobilisation for the University, develop programmes and initiatives that will strengthen alumni connections whilst encouraging lifelong support for their alma mater, amongst others”. As part of the event, a 10- minute documentary on the successes and challenges of the University was shown on a giant screen to the audience, whilst some alumni living abroad gave fraternal messages via Video conferencing. A solemn ceremony, led by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, was held for departed alumni at the event, which was chaired by Prof. Kofi Awusabo-Asare, the Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance.
