The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) Chapter of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has organised a get-together dinner to round-off activities for the 2015/16 Academic Year. The annual event, held at the Elmina Beach Resort, was aimed at relieving stress and fostering unity among members. Dressed in their Sunday best, members of UTAG-UCC could not hide their ecstasy and joy as they danced to the seamless flow of specially arranged music from the UCC Suapon Band to unwind themselves after a hectic academic year. Addressing members at the function, the President of UTAG-UCC, Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, commended members for their tireless work during the last academic year. He urged members to maintain their dedicated spirit and redouble their efforts during the 2016/17 academic year. Extolling the achievements of the current executives, Prof. Kwarteng said UTAG-UCC had, in collaboration with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG, managed to convince government to pay the Book and Research allowance on time. He noted that the executives had engaged Management, Council and the Academic Board of the University to resolve critical issues affecting members, thereby preventing imminent strike action by members to disrupt the academic calendar. Prof. Kwarteng, who is also the Head of the Department of History, said a high-powered delegation of NEC called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Flagstaff House, adding that during the meeting, the Minister for Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, informed members that, " the Ministry of Education and National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) were working on their Book and Research allowance in addition to setting up the National Research Fund." The President of UTAG-UCC noted that upon assumption of office, the executives invested substantial money into buying treasury bills, which had yield positive dividends and would be used to embark on massive developmental projects soon. He announced that the Association had entered into mutually beneficial relationship with HFC bank, stressing that, " As part of terms of this relationship, the Bank will build offices for UTAG-UCC on campus at no cost." Prof. Kwarteng seized the opportunity to congratulate senior citizens of the Association on reaching their compulsory retirement age and called on them to use their rich experience and knowledge to guide UTAG-UCC. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T Oduro, who graced the occasion, saluted the hardworking members of UTAG-UCC for their sacrifices, commitment and dedication to duty. He pointed out that management of the University was not oblivious of the challenges facing members and would do everything possible to tackle them head-on. He assured members that management would keep an open administration and called on members to seek clarifications on any issues affecting them. He encouraged them to work relentlessly in this academic year towards the forward March of the University. As part of the activities for the dinner, senior citizens, who have officially retired from active service of the University, were given citations for their meritorious services to the University.
