University of Cape Coast

Centre for Coastal Management

Mr. Andrew Karas, the out-going United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Missions Director to Ghana, has paid a working-visit to the Central and Western Regions. The visit, apparently his last in the current position, was aimed at monitoring the progress of USAID projects in the two regions.

The USAID/UCCC Fisheries and Coastal Management Capacity Building Support Project at the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (DFAS), University of Cape Coast (UCC), was not left out of the visits in the Central Region as Mr. Karas dined with some members of DFAS academic staff, selected USAID-funded Mphil and Phd candidates as well as Project staff at the Elmina Beach Resort on arrival.

He also paid a courtesy call on the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UCC (Prof. George K. T. Oduro) and the Central Regional Minister (Hon. Kwamena Duncan) the following day.

In a meeting with officials at the University, Mr. Karas expressed joy at the warm reception accorded him and described UCC as the leading tertiary institution in Ghana noting “...I know that UCC is a leading institution in Ghana for many reasons especially in the areas of fisheries, education, among others, and USAID is proud of that”.

Prof. Oduro, expressed gratitude to USAID/Ghana for their continued development assistance in Ghana, while describing the partnership between USAID and UCC as ‘flashy’. He stressed that the partnership had increased the visibility of the University and gave assurance that the University would wish to renew the agreement at the end of the project to deepen the partnership.

He further commended Mr. Karas for his hard work in the country and implored the Missions Director to be a good ambassador of the University wherever he goes, and never forget Ghana and UCC.

Hon. Duncan, when visited in his office, also pointed out important sectors such as health, sanitation, basic education and agriculture where the United States Government and the Government of Ghana could collaborate to provide lasting solutions in his Region; which is rated low in the aforementioned sectors.