Cape Coast, Dec. 23, GNA - Fifty four workers of the University of C= ape Coast (UCC), who have served for a period of 14-43 years and those who retired this year were given various awards at a ceremony on Thursday. It was to recognize and acknowledge their long and meritorious service= s to the university.

The awardees included teaching and non teaching staff of the universit= y comprising 23 junior and 21 senior staff and 10 senior members. They received gifts like refrigerators, washing machines, living room furniture and citation plaques. Workers who had worked for just four years but were perceived to have rendered quality services were also honoured. The longest serving staff, Mrs Dorcas Aidoo, a Principal Ward Assistan= t who had served for 43 years, was full of praise of the university authorities for recognizing her contribution to the success story of the Medical Department of the University. Others are Mr Joseph Baidoo, a Security man, who had served for 33 years, Dr Kofi Afedzi Asamoah, a Senior Lecturer at the Biochemistry Department, serving for 29 years and Mrs Sarah Amoquandoh, a Teacher at the University Kindergarten who served for 41 years. Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, Vice Chancellor of UCC, in a speech read on her behalf, expressed profound gratitude to the retirees and the other staff for their years of service and efforts to help make the university's vision a reality.

She stated that it was through their persistent devotion to duty and determination that they were being awarded and urged members of staff to be inspired by demonstrating good work values like punctuality, loyalty, honesty, trustworthiness, commitment and hard work. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang advised all the retirees to be health conscious a= t this period of their lives and to spend quality time with their families. Prof. Francis Amedahe, on behalf of the retirees, expressed appreciation to the University for honouring their efforts and advised management to endeavour to work without fear or favour to prevent selective implementation of rules and regulations.

He pointed out that violations in the implementation of the university's rules, regulations and statutes could breed mistrust and hat= red among the authorities and aggrieved workers and called for strict compliance. Isaac Ohene, Registrar and chairman of the occasion, commended the Finance Committee of the University for initiating an award scheme of such nature. He entreated the staff to be effective and efficient in the discharge of their duties and promised the retirees that the university would include them in its activities in order to stay in touch.