I was misquoted on UCC GHC500K expenditure – Vice chancellor

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has denied media reports that the University spent GHC500,000 last year to feed its staff on various university activities.

Prof. Ampiah was quoted by some media to have said at his induction ceremony last week that the university spent half a million Ghana Cedis on staff feeding at meetings and other activities last year.

But responding to the media reports, he explained that the amount was not just for feeding staff who were on official assignments but covered their travel cost, accommodation, allowances among other expenses.

Prof. Ampiah consequently expressed his displeasure about the misleading reportage, saying “these things never came out of my mouth that day”. He noted “there is a background that was missing from that report so we have people say the institution spends too much”.

The Vice Chancellor explained that the idea of bringing out the figure was to highlight the need of raising money in supporting the fulfillment of his vision for UCC.

He said under his leadership, various measures would be taken to ensure that such expenditure is reduced, noting he hopes to champion digitisation of many activities, which currently require staff to travel outside the main campus.

Prof. Ampiah who is also the chairman of the National Accreditation Board, reiterated that his overall vision is to provide leadership that would improve the national and international visibility of the institution.

He said he would focus on innovative delivery of teaching, research and management of the university while reducing face to face contacts.

That, he said, would cut down on cost of transportation among other budgets.

“Monies from such budgets could be used for promoting digital culture, increasing research capacity and activity, and promoting scholarship and dissemination of innovative research,” he said.

The University has an approximate population of 100,000 nationwide and monitors its other universities and colleges affiliated to it often on face to face bases by its staff.