The Department of History has inaugurated a Research Commons to enhance academic output of students and researchers of the Department.

The Research Commons affords researchers access to a state of the art technology, Microsoft Office Applications and Hardware facilities such as desktop computers, laptops, laser printing, digital projector and screen as well as photocopier machine.

In an address, the out-going Head of the Department, Prof. De-Valera Botchway, who inaugurated the facility, said the Department acknowledged research as a crucial part of its tactical plan to produce graduates with high level skills that would be beneficial to society.

He added, “Although the Sam Jonah Library is at the disposal of all students for learning and research, there has been a growing need for a befitting Research Commons for postgraduate students (at the Department of History) for meaningful research work, studies and networking. I thought that the Department needed to have its own research commons”.

A section of the Research Commons

Prof. Botchway observed that the Department solicited   about GH₵ 80,000.00 funds from benevolent individuals to set up the Research Commons.

He expressed appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, for donating a canon photocopier machine and printer to facilitate the academic work at the Department.

Prof. Botchway, who soon exits office as Head of Department, used the occasion to thank staff and students for their support towards his administration.

The Out-going Head of Department seized the chance to also inaugurate the Department’s renovated Reading Room.

For his part, the out-going Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Francis Eric Amuquandoh, appealed for the judicious use of the facilities with a high sense of maintenance culture to ensure their preservation for posterity.

The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Kwabena Sarfo Sarfo-Kantanka, as well as staff and students graced the inauguration.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC