Cape Coast, April 8, GNA – The University of Cape Coast has appointed Dr Felix C. Konotey Ahulu, a renowned Ghanaian Physician Consultant, to the “Dr Kwegyri Aggrey Professorial Chair of Genetic Epidemiology”.
Dr Ahulu, who was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by the UCC on Friday, is the first to occupy the Chair, which was initiated five years ago to facilitate research at the UCC.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Samuel Agyepong, who announced this on Saturday at the 30th congregation of the UCC, said the Chair would be based in the Faculty of Science.
He said Dr. Ahulu would be working on the Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP) and would among other things conduct research into the genetic epidemiology of diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Dr Ahulu would also research into whether HGDP can help African Americans and others in Diaspora to trace their origins in Africa. He, therefore, expressed the hope that the Chair would be a beacon not only for Ghana but also for the rest of Africa and invited other universities in the country and abroad to join in the research.
Prof. Agyepong mentioned other programmes the UCC has initiated to enhance the nation’s human resource development to include a Masters Degree programme in educational management, Diploma in Labour Studies and Bachelor of Education Degree in Basic Education.
