Former President John Dramani Mahama has praised the technological advancement in Ghana over the years.
The former President, who is an alumnus of the Department of Communication Studies of the University of Ghana and also was the Guest of Honor for the occasion, made this assertion yesterday at the launch of the 50th Anniversary of the Department.
It was under the theme, “50 years of Communication Scholarship and Training: Reimagining the Field in the Digital Era”.
The Department of Communication Studies was founded in 1972 as the Institute of Journalism and Communication Studies.
Mr. Mahama noted that the world has changed significantly from what it used to be, as technological advancement has taken over.
He continued that the convergence of technology has made it possible for data communication technology to accelerate the phase of businesses, including advertising, which has brought considerable convenience to consumers.
“You can order a product within the neighbourhood to places beyond the country, all the way to other continents, with just a click of a button and also advertise products far and near on the internet, carry out banking transactions and make payment on all your bills on digital platforms,” he added.
According to the former president, data communication has also enhanced education delivery through online learning, which reaches a far expanded population beyond the confined of a physical classroom with internal and external exchange of learning materials.
It is in respect of this that Mr Mahama looks forward to seeing traditional universities fully embracing digital technology and also adapt emerging learning technology to stimulate the learning environment and to facilitate teaching and learning.
To him, the department is a world class school grounded for raising great professionals and as such groomed him for future responsibilities.
On her part, the deputy minister of information, Fatima Abubakar, who stood in for the minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, recognized in her speech that the contribution of the Communication department to their ministry is invaluable.
Her ministry, she indicated, also runs to the department to guide them with research, which influences the decisions and policies they roll out.
Madam Fatima Abubakar also disclosed that because of the immense support of the department, her outfit does not take them for granted, but rather continues to appreciate them.
“When it comes to our businesses, political enterprises, the department remains the oxygen that gives life to all our institutions”, She said.
The deputy information minister also pledged her ministry’s support in the celebration of the 50th anniversary.
At the same event, the head of the Department of Communication studies, Dr. Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin, presented the ways in which the department has grown in recent years before announcing plans to begin fundraising for new facilities for the department.
Recent developments have included the implementation of two new courses, Strategic Communications and Multimedia in Journalism.
The department has also implemented what Dr. Yeboah-Banin calls short courses, like Local Language Broadcasting, which makes new information accessible to all, including journalists that have already completed their studies.
Despite these developments, she insisted the department must grow so that it can begin training more media professionals.
With the rapid digitalisation of world media, the department feels their expertise is needed more than ever, in order to help Ghana navigate globalised media, which can spread misinformation and promote polarisation, according to Dr. Yeboah-Banin.
However, the head of the Department mentioned many challenges impeding the growth of the department, chief among them being a small faculty and small facilities.
“We need to recruit more people to be able to grow our programs and our intake,” said Dr. Yeboah-Banin.
Also standing in the way of the program’s growth is their small classroom size and limited office space for faculty.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, highlighted the significant impact of the school on Ghanaian society. As a result, she called for the department to broaden their impact by focusing on undergraduate studies.
“We need training of media and communications professionals… I believe the department of Communication Studies has all it takes to deliver this,” said the vice Chancellor.
“The impact of the department of Communication Studies has also impelled through the exploit of the tall list of imminent Ghanaians, whose careers it has shaped, including ministers of states, multiple award winning journalists and the former president of the republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.”
By Jennifer Ambolley & Jake Moore
