UEW conference highlights role of research in Africa’s post-pandemic development

The Faculty of Social Science Education (FSSE) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has held its sixth Biennial Social Science Conference, with participants calling for research-driven solutions to Africa’s development challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two-day conference, held at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre on the university’s North Campus, was organised under the theme, “Bringing the Gown to Town: Reflections on Africa’s Development in the Face of Pandemics.”

Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mawutor Avoke, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang, commended the faculty for maintaining the conference despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He urged the faculty to develop strategies to make participation in such conferences mandatory for graduate students, stressing that the events provide valuable opportunities for research training and academic development.

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Dean of the Faculty of Social Science Education, Prof. Lucy Effeh Attom, said although Africa had made progress in development, the continent continued to grapple with socio-economic, health, political, environmental and food security challenges.

She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had further disrupted Africa’s development agenda and said the conference theme reflected the contribution of African scholars in developing practical solutions to address the effects of the pandemic and future crises.

Delivering the keynote address, the Director of Research, Statistics and Information Management at the Ministry of Health, Dr Wisdom K. Atiwoto, underscored the importance of strengthening public health surveillance through research, capacity building and evidence-based action.

He said integrated approaches to sustainable development, continuous training, social research and stronger institutional frameworks would be critical to supporting recovery and preparing countries to respond effectively to future disease outbreaks.

Representing the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Deputy Commission Secretary Mrs Lucille Hewlett Annan praised UEW for its collaboration with the Commission in promoting democratic values and civic responsibility.

She also commended the university for its public education efforts during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly its role in combating misinformation circulating on social media.

The conference featured 12 research presentations by scholars from UEW and other universities, covering topics including environmental change and sustainable development, education, social policy, human security, gender, family life and reproductive health, labour and employment, history, politics and other multidisciplinary issues.