Sam Jonah
The Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Sir Sam Esson Jonah, has challenged the newly installed Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, to transform the university into an institution that produces graduates with practical skills and high standards capable of addressing the country’s development challenges.
Speaking at the investiture of the VC, Sir Sam Jonah urged the university’s administration to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application.
He argued that the traditional role of universities as institutions for transmitting knowledge was being challenged by technological advancement, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), which now provides instant access to information.
“Guard the standards of this University with your life; a devalued degree helps no one. Break the wall between the academy and the workshop; let no programme survive that cannot answer the question, ‘What can your graduate do?'” he said.
According to him, universities must shift their focus from merely producing graduates with theoretical knowledge to developing individuals who can create, innovate and apply knowledge to solve societal challenges.
He said the future of universities would depend on their ability to develop human qualities and practical competencies that machines could not replace.
“If our answer is to transmit knowledge, then we are finished, because a machine now does that better, faster and cheaper than we ever will. But if our answer is to form human beings who can do what no machine can do, then the university is about to enter its greatest century,” he added.
Sir Sam Jonah also called for stronger collaboration among academic institutions, industry and communities to ensure that research contributes directly to national development.
He proposed that UCC establish a faculty dedicated to degree-awarding vocational education, where students would combine academic training with practical experience.
He further suggested that the University of Cape Coast become the first university in Africa to establish a full faculty offering Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Applied Skills through degree-awarding vocational education.
Expressing confidence in Prof. Aheto’s ability to lead the transformation of the institution, Mr. Jonah cited his previous achievements, including establishing and developing the Centre for Coastal Management into an internationally recognised institute.
“You founded the Centre for Coastal Management with little more than conviction and left it an institute of continental standing. Now I ask you to do it again because the university you must lead does not fully exist yet. You must build it,” he said.
Prof. Aheto earned his PhD in Environmental Science from the Centre for Environment and Technology at the University of Bremen, Germany, in 2008.
He joined UCC’s Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (DFAS) as a Lecturer in 2009, was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2012 and was appointed Head of the department the same year.
Prof. Aheto, who has published more than 50 peer-reviewed academic papers in reputable journals over the past 14 years, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2017 and to full Professor in 2020.
He was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCC in December 2024 and became Acting Vice-Chancellor in September 2025.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah