CU Publications

CBS LAUNCHES MAIDEN BOOK

The Central Business School (CBS) on Tuesday December 12, 2017 launched its maiden book titled “Perspectives on Business and Management in Ghana” at the College of Physician and Surgeons in Accra.

The book, written over a period of about four years, is a compilation of papers from 25 faculty members. It was edited by Professors Bill Puplampu, Kwaku Appiah-Adu and Justice Djokoto; Vice-Chancellor, immediate past Dean of CBS and Head of Department for Agribusiness of CBS respectively.

The vision to write the book was birthed during the tenure of Prof Puplampu when he was the Dean of CBS. Professor Appiah- Adu, currently the Head of Delivery Unit at the Office of the Vice President, Republic of Ghana continued with work on the book after taking over from Professor Puplampu. He coordinated the collection and publication of the book with Prof. Djokoto and their aspiration was to ensure sure that the project timelines were met by faculty for the submission of the papers.

“The book is a good manual for all start-ups and emerging Small & Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the country,” said Nana Osei-Bonsu, Chairman for the launching.

 Nana Osei-Bonsu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Private Enterprises Federation (PEF) disclosed that the PEF would be organising a capacity building seminar for SMEs across the country in January 2018 and as a result the book will be used as the manual for the training.

He said the book should be a welcome opportunity for people in the business sector to read, understand and strategize to make profit and recoup investments from their operations considering the scope of work done by the writers.

Professor Puplampu, in his remarks, was grateful to the writers for their commitment in working towards the timelines set for publication.

He pledged his support to all Schools and Faculties of the University in the publication of books and was hopeful to see the Schools and Faculties launch a book every twelve to eighteen months.

Dr. Mrs. Edith Dankwa, the Chief Executive Officer for Business and Financial Times, doing an overview of the book prior to her launching it said the contents covered almost all aspects of business with the central theme of marketing; central to the integration of every economy in focus.

The first copy of the book was auctioned to Dr. Mrs. Dankwa for five thousand Ghana cedis (GHC5000.00).

PROFESSOR PUPLAMPU INDUCTED AS VICE-CHANCELLOR OF CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

The Vice-Chancellor of Central University, Prof. Bill Buenar Puplampu has pledged his commitment to consolidate the Christian heritage, progress and gains made by the University over the years as well as work to make it the preferred destination for undergraduate and postgraduate training in the private University space in Ghana.

According to him, the University was “birthed in vision to impact our world with the gospel through higher education. We want to consolidate this reality”; he said, adding that “the organisational, administrative and pedagogical processes should demonstrate and be energised by core values of Christianity to make meaningful engagement.

Professor Puplampu observed that Central University under his tenure would continue to promote the development of ethical leaders who appreciate the wisdom in distinguishing between what is right and wrong and are mindful of the fact that unethical practices diminish everyone. “The development of the capacity for negotiating the ethical dilemmas which confront us in the work and market place starts way before the dilemmas actually hit us” he stressed.

The Vice-Chancellor made this known at his induction held on Tuesday, November 9, 2017 at the Trinity Hall at the Miotso campus of the University.  Professor Puplampu takes over from Professor Kwesi Yankah, who is currently the Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education. The ceremony was attended by the Chancellor, Rev. Dr. Mensa Otabil, Ministers of State, the Pro-Chancellor, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) Presbytery, traditional rulers, representatives of sister universities, management, staff and students and was also witnessed by hundreds of people from across the country.

Professor Puplampu also expressed his gratitude to the Chancellor, the University Council and the ICGC Presbytery for his appointment. He reiterated his intention to transform and project the University into the unique icon that it was birthed to be.

The new Vice-Chancellor holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Ghana and an MSc degree in Occupational Psychology from the Polytechnic of East London. He also obtained his PhD in Organisational Behaviour from the University of East London in the United Kingdom. Professor Puplampu is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society with specialization in Occupational and Organisational Psychology.

Professor Puplampu on the occasion launched 3 scholarship funds for 4 beneficiaries every year: the Central University Scholarship for 2 citizens of Miotso/Prampram and Dawhenya; Scholarship in honour of Nene Adibuer Puplampu & Rev. Dr. I. D. Osabutey-Aguadze  (eligible for students from Ghanatta Senior High School and PRESEC, Legon) and the Emil and Judith Puplampu Scholarship for eligible graduates from Ada Senior High School.

Rev. Dr. Mensa Otabil, Chancellor of the University who presided over the induction charged the new Vice- Chancellor to position the University to become a world class institution of learning with great culture. “Work at making Central University a citadel of knowledge and development in a society which increasingly commodifies knowledge. Champion the Christian agenda and inculcate ethical values into products of the University,” he charged.

The Chancellor further advised the new Vice-Chancellor to uphold the academic integrity of the University. “As you continue with your work, remember that the knowledge creating function of the University must not be pursued to the detriment of other priorities, and that balance and sagacity are critical for the success of the academic enterprise like our own,” he noted.

Dr. Mensa Otabil also acknowledged the pioneering leaders of the University. He mentioned Rev. Prof. Kingsley Emmanuel Larbi whom he described as “a man of exceptional drive and energy who was very effective in establishing systems, developing academic programmes and working to receive accreditation”.

The Chancellor was also grateful to Prof. Victor Patrick Yao Gadzekpo under whose leadership the Miotso campus was built. He noted that under Prof. Gadzekpo, the University enjoyed unparralled growth and expansion in student numbers and programmes most of which have remained flagship offerings for the University.

Dr. Otabil described the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kwesi Yankah, as a consummate academic under whose tenure the University witnessed the attainment of Presidential Charter to fully award its own degrees and certificates.  “He also ensured the University became a respected academic institution with the introduction of innovative Distinguished Lectures Series and as well leveraged on his extensive international connections to establish a number of institutional relationships and partnerships with universities beyond our borders. We shall also remember with fondness his interest in the social life of students and staff as well”, said Dr. Otabil.

Handing over the baton of office to the new VC, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kwesi Yankah expressed his commitment to support higher educational institutions achieve their mission. He was grateful to the University Council, staff and students for the opportunity to serve as Vice-Chancellor. “Central University introduced me to private sector and faith-based University administration. CU opened up to me the opportunities that currently drive my professional life and I am grateful”, he said.

CHANCELLOR INTERACTS WITH LEVEL 400 STUDENTS

The Chancellor of Central University, Rev. Dr. Mensa Otabil has asked students of the University to remain resolute in their quest to have a meaningful and fruitful life.

Dr. Otabil said despite the challenges that confront them, he was confident that with big dreams, daring attitudes and bold initiatives and endurance, they could rise above every challenge while pushing for success.

“Dream about the impossible in your youth and attempt to do the unfamiliar. Do something   extraordinary for God and for yourself and you will be fulfilled”, he said.

The Chancellor gave this advice at the maiden edition of “Time with the Chancellor” on Monday November 13, 2017 at the Conference Room of the Daniel Institute at the ICGC Head office.

“Time with the Chancellor”, an initiative of the Office of the Chancellor is to offer the platform for Level 300 and 400 students to interact and engage with the Chancellor while Level 100 and 200 students also interact with the Vice- Chancellor at various times. It will also provide feedback on their experience in the University as well as to prepare their minds for the world of work when they graduate.

In all, 25 Level 400 students selected from the Miotso and Mataheko campuses attended. They were drawn from the Marketing, Banking and Finance and Human Resource Management (HRM) departments.  The rest were the Accounting and Management and Public Administration departments all in the Central Business School. Also in attendance were the Dean of Students, Rev. Dr. Fred Brako and Pastor Charles Nsiah of the University’s Chaplaincy Department.

Rev. Dr. Otabil urged the students to be entrepreneur minded and be at the forefront of championing business excellence. He said that every dream must be followed by decision action in order to be achieved.

He said “best ideas start at a young age and the business dynamics always favour those who work towards both closed and open doors. Your dreams will also not always come to pass, you however need to keep them alive” adding that “because your dream does not materialise does not mean you are a failure, keep on keeping on”.

The Chancellor also assured the students of Management’s commitment to guide and help them in their transition from school to the world of work. He noted that God always directs the affairs of men and charged them not to dread any life experiences but to always work on their desires and talents till they were able to finish what they have set out to achieve.

After responding to a number of questions from the students and listening to some share their experiences, Dr. Otabil commended Christine Ackwonu and Sulemana Alhassan, Marketing and HRM students respectively for their courage and resilience to pursue their dreams despite the challenges and failures they had encountered. He advised them to put their past behind and continue to work on their dreams while pursuing with their academic work.

“It may seem you are not making progress with your life. The important thing is that the struggles are temporal setbacks; keep moving into the future and the reality will be greater than your dreams” he encouraged.

Benjamin Ackun of the Marketing Department described the interaction as fantastic and hoped that the encounter will continue for other students to have a similar experience. Another participant, Priscilla Obeng from the Banking and Finance Department also referred to the encounter as educative and informative. 

DEAN OF SCHOOL OF PHARMACY INVENTS NEW ANTIBIOTIC

The Dean of Central University’s School of Pharmacy, Prof. Kwesi Adomako Ohemeng is set to release to the world market a new antibiotic called Omadacycline.

The drug, invented by Prof Ohemeng is to help curb the threat of growing resistance of superbugs to available antibiotics worldwide, a crisis which scientists have warned in foreboding terms could push the world back to the pre-antibiotic era where people died of simple infections; a release by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana added that “there appears to be a flicker of hope after all, following the discovery of a medicine by a Ghanaian pharmacist and researcher.”

A statement on the website of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana notes that “experts at the international Conference in the field of infectious disease where the drug was unveiled (October 2017) have rated the drug as one of the ten new antibiotics in the global pipeline for resistant infections.” They further described it as the first-in-class aminimethylcycline which overcome two main ways of bacteria resistance to tetracyclines: ribosomal protection and efflux pump.

The drug, to be released by Paratek pharmaceuticals with US patent number 7,056,902 has since been unveiled in the United States and it is likely to be approved further by the US FDA for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial infections by 2018.

Prof. Ohemeng who is a renowned expert in drug development has Sarecycline as another of his invention in the 3^rd phase of clinical development in the US. He is also credited with spearheading the development of three new drugs for Immtech International and Paratek Pharmaceuticals (both US-based pharmaceutical companies). He also has over fifty (50) patents and over eighty-five publications and presentations to his credit.

As a leading academic with considerable expertise in pharmaceutical research, university teaching, academic writing among others, Prof. Ohemeng has over 30 years of experience working with several drug manufacturers and has had close association with a number of international pharmaceutical entities.

Prof Ohemeng belongs to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) and also has professional affiliations with the American Chemical Society (Division of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.