The Department of Music and Dance has received a donation of musical instruments and studio equipment to enhance teaching, learning, research and outreach programmes at the Department.

Donated Equipment

    
The equipment comprised two pairs of bongo drums, four samba drums, mini xylophones,  one and half-pedal organ, a set of electric drums, 16 channel mixture 2 small 10 channel, 42 channel mixture, two accordion, three saxophone, a violin,  compact disk deck, audio link-16 channel, digital keyboard, and studio keyboard. He said there was another consignment that would be donated to the Department. “This is the second time we are donating such equipment to the Department and there are other consignments to be delivered again” he noted.

Promoting Music in Educational Institutions

Presenting the equipment, the President of African Footprints Foundation, Mr. Kweku Addison, said the donation was borne out of a long-standing collaboration between his organisation and the Department of Music. He said as part of plans to promote music in educational institutions in Ghana, his organisation liaised with some institutions to send the equipment. Receiving the equipment, the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, was grateful to Mr. Addison for his generosity. He said the equipment would go a long way to enhance and promote the activities of the Department. “It is my vision to transform the Faculty of Arts and I strongly believe the equipment will help the Department of Music and Dance to function effectively, especially its Suapon Band which used to be the toast on campus and Cape Coast town” he indicated.

Benefits to the Department

The Head, Department of Music and Dance, Dr. Eric Debrah Otchere, said the donation was a boost to the Department saying, “These instruments will be very beneficial to faculty, technicians and students for practical sessions”. He said the instruments especially would re-energise the Suapon Band to perform at functions both within and outside the campus. He assured that the items would be well maintained regularly to serve their purpose in the Department in particular and the entire University in general.

Mr. Addison was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Signe Thorborg Addison and their `daughter, and the Country Director of African Footprints Foundation.

Present were some lecturers, technicians, and students of the Department.