The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has honoured 59 retiring staff members in recognition of their dedicated and meritorious service over the years at the 2026 Send-Off and Long Service Awards Ceremony.
The retirees, who served the institution for periods ranging from 10 to 42 years, comprised 11 Senior Members, 17 Senior Staff, and 31 Junior Staff.
They received citations and gifts including refrigerators, gas cookers with cylinders, living room and bedroom furniture sets, televisions with TV guards, in appreciation of their invaluable contributions to the growth and development of the University.
The Send-Off and Long Service Awards Ceremony, introduced in 2004, was established to recognise the commitment and dedicated service of retiring staff.
Initially, the awards were reserved for retirees who had served the University for at least 10 years.
However, Management later decided to include all retiring staff. This is in recognition of the fact that every employee contributes meaningfully to the University in various capacities.
Among those honoured was Mr. Kodwo Bosomtwe, who retired after an outstanding 42 years of service to the University.
Addressing the gathering, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, congratulated the retirees and expressed profound appreciation for their unwavering dedication and contributions during their active years of service. He noted that they had devoted the most productive years of their lives to the institution and had made significant contributions in their respective fields.
“We cannot adequately compensate you for your invaluable services, but we can at least express our deepest gratitude to each of you. Ayeekoo,” he remarked.
Professor Aheto explained that the value of the awards presented to retirees was determined primarily by their length of service. He acknowledged the University’s financial constraints but assured the retirees that management remained committed to sustaining the programme while exploring additional ways to improve the retirement packages in the future.
He further announced plans to strengthen medical support for retired staff as part of the University’s commitment to their wellbeing. He encouraged the retirees to join the UCC Pensioners Association to network, socialise, and support one another. In addition, he disclosed that plans were underway to establish a Health and Wellness Centre dedicated to retired staff.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor also encouraged employees currently in active service to reflect on the relationships they had built with the institution and their colleagues over the years and to strive to strengthen those relationships. He urged them to uphold the University’s core values of punctuality, loyalty, honesty, trustworthiness, commitment, professionalism, and excellence to sustain the gains made by the institution.
He further advised the retirees to prioritise their health, manage their finances prudently, and continue contributing to the development of the University and society. Professor Aheto also revealed his intention to establish a financial assistance scheme for retired staff when he assumes office as Vice-Chancellor.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, the immediate past Hall Master of Kwame Nkrumah Hall, Professor Edward Marfo-Yiadom, expressed gratitude to the University’s management and staff for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout their years of service. He stated that the retirees had given their very best to advance the growth and reputation of the University. He encouraged staff still in active service to remain committed to excellence to sustain UCC’s position as the leading University in Ghana and West Africa and the eleventh-ranked university in Africa.
The Director of the Directorate of Human Resources, Mr. Adom Konadu, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to maintaining a lasting relationship with its retirees. He encouraged them to remain ambassadors of the University wherever they found themselves and to continue to exhibit values and attitudes that reflected the mission, vision, and core values of the University.
The executives of the various unions on campus, including University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), Senior Staff Association - Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG) and the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU), presented solidarity messages.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC
