News
‘Varsity, industry collaboration key to national development’
To manufacture vaccines particularly COVID- 19 products requires huge doses of investment, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Prof. John Owusu Gyapong, has said.
He has established also the critical relationship between science and vaccine development.
Prof. Gyapong made the argument when he delivered a talk on ‘Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on higher education in Ghana: Threats and Opportunities’ at the just -ended 2021University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) Congress at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT),Tarkwa, in the Western Region.
He said, scientists in the universities needed huge investmnts to conduct researches for products,noting that, the United States of America spent huge dollars in such a venture.
This,he explained involved series of trials in communities to erase all reasonable doubts.
Again, Prof. Gyapong said, there was the need to provide protection to the communities,stressing “it’s about billion of dollars.”
To achieve this goal, he encouraged universities in Ghana to collaborate with one another in their research work in this era of science, in order to make the needed impact in the country.
“Many of us like to work in our small corners but this requires that we work together through consortia across the world and even in this country, there is no reason universities should not work closer”. he said.
Prof.Gyapong stated that the COVID-19 pandemic should be a wake -up call for research capabilities, science, technology and innovation systems, manufacturing capabilities, inter-institutional and interdisciplinary collaboration through existing consortia.
He said, “Despite innovations made in some universities the scale of collaboration with the industry that takes headline-making innovation beyond the walls of an institution, is conspicuously missing.
“This can provide an opportunity for further validation and a path to widespread adoption and commercialisation.” he told the delegates.
The UHAS Vice Chancellor explained that “When the pandemic broke in Ghana, we met leaders in the educational sector and they gave us all the promises but when the rubber hit the road, we were found wanting.
“We could have thrown our hands in the air and said, we don’t have it, so that is the end.But as university managers, administrators and academia, we have to do the teaching — to get things going.The digital dividehad been a very key transformational issue when it comes to managing COVID in the educational environment.”
According to Prof.Gyapong”even in the event that the COVID-19 pandemic should end, with the kind of infrastructure that we have developed, it would be very unwise to throw away all the online teaching platforms.This requires very good and effective policy.
“The policies that l have seen are not good enough and we need to collaborate as institutions to ensure that we are on top of the issues. Since we are the knowledge hub we can take advantage of the opportunities that come our way to develop science and make sure that we are on top of issues.”
Funding of research in universities, he believed, should not just be a talk it should be materialised and hoped that national research fund would be operationalised so hat researhers can access monies for research across various disciplines.
“The pandemic has really brought a major challenge to the educational institutions. We need to examine and re- consider how we would manage our digital educational system because it is now becoming part of us”
From Clement Adzei Boye, Tarkwa
About 200 company secretaries, governance professionals and institutional leaders will gather in Accra for the ‘Company Secretaries Summit’ next month.
It is aimed at strengthening governance practices and enhance boardroom effectiveness across the country.
The summit, which is scheduled for July 16 at the Labadi Beach Hotel seeks to equip governance professionals with the knowledge, skills, and networks required to navigate the increasingly complex demands of modern corporate leadership.
It will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions focusing on emerging governance trends, boardroom dynamics, regulatory compliance, digital transformation, and stakeholder expectations.
According to the convener, Catherine Engmann, the summit comes at a critical time when governance professionals are under growing pressure to support sound decision-making, strengthen governance culture, and respond effectively to changing institutional and regulatory environments.
“This gathering is not just another conference. It is a platform for governance leaders who are already operating at the highest level and intend to stay there,” she said.
She noted that the programme was designed to provide participants with practical tools, fresh insights, and valuable professional connections.
According to Ms Engmann, a major highlight of the event will be the awards ceremony, which will recognise individuals and organisations that have demonstrated excellence in governance practice and made significant contributions to improving board effectiveness and corporate accountability.
She mentioned that the summit will also offer participants an opportunity to benchmark their practices against industry standards, exchange ideas with peers, and explore innovative approaches to governance challenges.
Beyond the formal sessions, the event is expected to foster networking and collaboration among governance professionals, helping to strengthen governance practices across Ghana’s corporate and institutional landscape.
Speaking about the vision behind the initiative, Ms Engmann, said the summit was inspired by the need to create a dedicated platform that recognises the critical role played by company secretaries and governance professionals.
According to her, the Company Secretaries’ Summit and Awards reflects her conviction that Ghana’s governance professionals deserve an annual platform where they can engage in meaningful discussions, build strategic relationships, and receive recognition for their contributions to effective governance.
Registration for the summit, she said was currently open, with interested professionals encouraged to secure their participation ahead of the event.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
-1 cup dried soya beans
-4–5 cups for water (for blending)
-Extra water for soaking
-Sugar, honey or dates (optional, for sweetness)
-Vanilla extract (optional)
Preparation
-Pick through the beans to remove stones or damaged seeds and rinse thoroughly
-Place them in a large bowl and cover with plenty of water. Soak for at least eight hours or overnight to soften it to blend easier
– After soaking, rub the beans with your hands as the skin begins to remove
– Removing the skins helps reduce the ‘beany’ taste and improves texture
– Put the soaked beans into a blender with 4–5 cups of clean water
-Blend until smooth and milky. (You may need to do this in batches depending on your blender size).
– Using a clean muslin cloth or fine sieve, strain the blended mixture into a pot. (Squeeze well to extract as much liquid as possible).
-The leftover pulp is called okara. Don’t throw it away — it can be used in baking, porridge, or even added to stews.
– Place the strained milk on medium heat and make it boil. Stir continuously to prevent burning or overflowing.
– Allow it to boil for at least 20–25 minutes. Proper boiling removes the raw taste and neutralises natural compounds that can upset the stomach.
-Once boiled a little sugar or honey. Pulse.gh
Health benefits of Soya beans
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