From Left: Mankrado Djanie, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, Mamaga Adomwaa-Nani and her linguist
Isabella Akosua Nani, an assistant lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources at MountCrest University College (MCU) in Accra, has been installed as paramount queen mother of the Awudome traditional area in the Ho West District of the Volta Region.
Her stool name is Mamaga Adomwaa-Nani II.
The Awudome traditional area consists of seven towns namely Anyirawase, the capital, Tsito, Avenui, Dafor, Kwanta, Tsibu and Bame.
The 31-year-old queen mother, who holds a Master of Philosophy in Animal Science (Nutrition Option), accompanied by a delegation of kingmakers of the traditional area, visited MountCrest University after her installation to officially introduce her and express their gratitude to the institution.
The visit was also to establish a relationship between the university and the traditional area.
Recently, a four-member delegation from MountCrest, led by the Founder/Rector, Mr. Kwaku Ansa-Asare, paid a reciprocal visit to Anyirawase, where to their surprise, a mini-durbar of chiefs, queen mothers and indigenes was held in their honour.
Other members of the delegation were Dr Samuel Akortey Akor, immediate-past Deputy Rector (Finance & Administration) and Dean of the School of Medical Sciences, Prof Charles Kankam, current Deputy Rector (Finance & Administration), Director of Works and Deanof Science Engineering and Mathematics and Rev Delali Akati, the Registrar.
Welcoming the MountCrest delegation, the Mankrado of Awudome Traditional area, Mankrado Djanie, praised the university for acknowledging the traditions and customs of the area and supporting them throughout the installation of the queen mother.
He appealed to MountCrest to, if possible, play “a foster-father role as support for teachers and pupils in the area’s highest level of learning – a Junior High School – by providing in-service training for the teachers so that the children’s performance at the BECE will improve.
Mankrado Djanie asked for the establishment of a special relationship that would enable the University to offer admissions to children from the traditional area who complete senior high school with minimum qualifications.
“Very close to the traditional area, we have an institute or rather infrastructure that has been lying idle in the name of the Institute of Adult Education of the University of Ghana. Perhaps it will be possible for you to take over this fine place and turn it into a place of learning for our youth and adults who wish to pursue studies in various disciplines,”she said.
Responding to the requests, Mr Ansa-Asare said improving the performance of pupils and students at school is a two-prong affair that involves both teachers and parents.
He advised parents to join hands with teachers to ensure that the children learn and revise what they are taught in school.
Instead of allowing children to go to video centres without any control, parents must insist that they go through their notes, he added.
He said the request for students with minimum qualification to enter MountCrest would be favourably considered.
Mr Ansa-Asare told the gathering he was delighted that the indigenes of Awudome themselves have asked the University to take over the idle Institute of Adult Education of the University of Ghana.
He said that issue has already been discussed by MountCrest at various forums, so he would follow up on their request.
He promised that MountCrest would give the necessary encouragement and support to the queen mother to embark on a PhD programme, if she wishes to do so, and asked the traditional elders to also support her in that endeavour.
“Her traditional role should not take centre stage in her quest for learning as she would become a role model to the youth who would aspire to be like her.”