The Executive Secretary of Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG) undertook a one-week working visit to the German’s Rectors Conference- HRK, in Bonn Germany, to acquaint herself with the operations of HRK and to explore collaborative partnership arrangements in an effort to restructure and expand the mandate and mission of VCG to become relevant and more responsive to emerging issues in the higher education landscape.  Vice Chancellors had approved for the Executive Secretary to undertake the visit to the HRK to study their operational model for possible emulation.

The visit which took place in Bonn from April 22-27 2024, saw the establishment of collaborations, strategies and future partnership arrangements in the areas of capacity building and training, research linkages and innovative actions.

The Executive Secretary held a meeting with the Secretary General of the HRK, Dr. Jens-Peter Gaul and also with critical members of the HRK team namely, Dr. Marijke Wahlers, the Deputy Secretary General and Head of Department, International Affairs, Alexandra Feisthauer, Head of project, HRK ADVANCE – Optimizing Governance and Processes of Internationalisation, Dr Rudolf Smolarczyk and with Dr. Thomas Bohm, Head of Section Africa and Middle East, International Students, Recognition, who facilitated the entire visit to the HRK.

She also met with various officials and representatives specifically, Ariane Brake, International Affairs, Africa, Near & Middle East, German Research Foundation Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Officials of German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Lena Leumer, – Centre for International Scientific Cooperation (KIWI), and Yvonne Visarius (Team Leader) Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education (DIES).  Dr. Erik Hansalik, Head of Section, Africa, and Middle East in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, also met briefly with the Executive Secretary.

As part of the working visit, the Executive Secretary visited the University of Cologne one of the key partners within the Ghana North Rhine Westphalia Alliance. The Project Coordinator Dr. Georg Verweyen, explained to the Executive Secretary the objectives of the alliance. They further discussed ways to explore and strengthen the alliance, and enhance the full participation of Ghana’s Public Universities for their benefit.

Some immediate outcomes of the meeting are as follows.

1. Directing access to information on calls for research partners for grant announcements.
2. Providing access to DAAD/DIES Calls on mobility scholarships for disseminations to VCG member institutions.
3. Developing capacity building-partnership arrangements for university leaders.
4. Providing access to direct information on internationalization strategies and linkages.
5. Providing access to general information on Global Higher Education.
6. Contacting again all the German partners for further information on current/future calls for programmes etc. to establish VCG as a platform and actor for dissemination and informing universities on international programmes and funding
7. Collecting data from universities of all possible contacts for such information (VC’s, deans, International Offices etc.)
8. Collecting data on German/Ghanaian Alumni to present VCG as first partner also for German organisations and universities
9. Discussing a strategy on German/Ghanaian cooperation within VCG
10. Fostering agreements with DAAD-Office or/and Ghana/NRW Higher Education Alliance, or in future also HRK
11. Supporting universities regarding Erasmus + European Mobility
12. Establishing a fully functional Desk/Office of Linkages and Research Collaborations in the VCG to facilitate the Collaborative Research Linkages process.

The inaugural GUSA Championship featured competitions in Men’s Tug of War, Men and Women’s Arm-Wrestling, and Women’s Ampe. This event was hosted by the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) in Wa, located in the Upper West Region of northern Ghana.

The Championship took place from May 2 to May 6, 2024. Seven institutions from the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) participated: University of Cape Coast (UCC), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), SDD-UBIDS, Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), and University for Development Studies (UDS).

KNUST Men’s team won Tug-of-War as well as Women’s Ampe whereas; UCC also won Arm- Wrestling in both the men and women category

This inaugural GUSA Championship complements the existing GUSA competitions, which include the main GUSA Games, the GUSA Cross-Country race.

We extend our congratulations to the winning teams.

Among the standout performers were esteemed members of the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA), whose exceptional contributions added luster to the nation’s sporting achievements. Their remarkable performances have brought immense pride to Ghana on the international stage.

Notable among the GUSA contingent is Ms. Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah currently gold medalist in the World University Games Women High Jump held last year in Chengdu, China. Her mastery in the Women’s High Jump secured a gold medal. Additionally, Mr. Frederick Asante, Mr. Henry Horlali, and Mr. Dake Kabu demonstrated remarkable skills in Basketball, clinching a silver medal for their outstanding teamwork. Moreover, Mr. Evans Cadman Yamoah, a former GUSA member, ascended to victory in the Men’s High Jump Division, earning another gold medal for Ghana.

Besides all the above, over ninety percent (90%) of the track and field athletes who represented our dear country Ghana were current and past GUSA members.  There were also some GUSA members among the female football team that won the gold medal.

On the technical side of officiating, a good number of the technical officials were from GUSA.

Heartfelt congratulations are extended to the entire Ghanaian team, with special commendation reserved for the GUSA members whose contributions have played a pivotal role in elevating the nation’s sporting legacy. Their dedication and commitment serve as an inspiration to us all, embodying the sentiment aptly expressed by Irish boxer and Olympic gold medalist, Katie Taylor: “Only the strongest shoulders can carry the hopes of a nation.”

The Ghanaian delegation exhibited unwavering perseverance, courage, and dedication throughout the games, culminating in a remarkable total of sixty-nine medals. Among these were nineteen gold, twenty-nine silver, and twenty-one bronze medals, spanning twenty-nine diverse sporting disciplines such as football, volleyball, handball, table tennis, badminton, basketball, arm wrestling, and boxing. This historic achievement stands as a testament to Ghana’s sporting prowess and resilience.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all involved for their tireless efforts and unwavering support in bringing this triumph to fruition.

Source: PRO, GUSA

GhanaWeb – Triumphant performance by GUSA members at the 13th All African Games

On behalf of the Executives of GUSA

Vice Chancellors Ghana

The 7th General Assembly of the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) took place from Wednesday, 28th February, 2024, to 3rd March, 2024. It was marked by a series of meetings among various sub-committees, including the Student Executive Committee and the Technical Committee.

 Election of new executives was held on Saturday, 2^nd March, 2024 at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The culmination of this electoral process occurred during the General Assembly convened on the said date.

The election to determine the executive leadership of the Association took place with the outcome as follows:

• The incumbent President, Mr. Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko of the University of Development Studies, who stood unopposed, maintained this position with seventy-three (73) affirmatives and two dissenting votes.
• The incumbent Vice-President Prof. Dominic Otoo, of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UNER), secured his position with fifty-six (56) votes, while his opponent, Prof. Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, of the University of Education, Winneba garnered twenty (20) votes.
• Mr. Timothy Mensah of KNUST who was also the incumbent Organizing Secretary, received seventy-four (74) affirmative votes with one opposing vote.
• Mr. Ibrahim Ali Abdulai of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, (UPSA) the Financial Secretary, retained his position as he obtained seventy-three (73) votes with two opposing votes.
• Mr. Asante Forkuo of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the incumbent Public Relations Officer, obtained twenty-four (24) votes, while Mrs. Emma Pimpong of (UPSA), his opponent, garnered fifty-two (52) votes.

Following the announcement of these results, the newly elected executives were formally inaugurated and entrusted with the responsibility of advancing the objectives and welfare of the Association.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected executives and express our utmost optimism for their successful tenure, aiming for the continued progress and prosperity of the Ghana University Sports Association.