Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame holds a Master of Philosophy (Administration in Higher Education), and a Bachelor of Arts (Secretaryship) in addition to a Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast. He also holds a Certificate of French Language Proficiency from the Centre International de Recherche et d’Etude de Langues, Village du Benin, Lome, Togo.
Mr. Onyame is a professional administrator and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administrators and Management Consultants (CIAMC) of Ghana; a Member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE); and an Affiliate of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana. He is also a Member of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) and has worked as a professional university administrator at the University of Cape Coast for more than 28 years.
His service in the University of Cape Coast started in 1991 when, upon completion of his Bachelor’s degree programme, he was drafted to do his national service in the Academic Section. After national service in August of 1992, Mr. Onyame was, on the recommendation of his immediate superiors and Head of Section, retained as a regular staff of the University and appointed Senior Administrative Assistant. In October of 1993, he was appointed Junior Assistant Registrar and placed in charge of teaching and examinations at the Academic Section. In 1994, he was posted to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor where he served as Administrative Secretary under two Vice-Chancellors over a period of eight (8) years. From October 2002 to March 2009, Mr. Onyame served as the University’s Public Relations Officer at the ranks of Assistant Registrar and Senior Assistant Registrar having been promoted to the latter rank in 2004. Mr. Onyame was promoted to the rank of Deputy Registrar in April, 2009 and was reposted to head the Directorate (previously Division) of Academic Affairs. Following the restructuring of the Office of the Registrar in 2015, Mr. Onyame became the Acting Director of Academic Affairs in December, 2015 and substantive Director from December, 2016 till 31st July, 2020.
Mr. Onyame is results-oriented, hardworking, committed to duty, pragmatic and an excellent team player with strengths in the areas of management and supervision. He successfully led and managed change in the various positions he has held at the University of Cape Coast. He has mentored a number of junior colleagues in the Registrar’s Department some of whom have risen to the rank of Senior Assistant Registrar. He is bilingual and participated in many discussions involving the University in collaborations with the French Embassy and other Francophone institutions.
Among his key achievements before ascending to the position of Registrar (as Head of the Directorate of Academic Affairs and Head of Public Affairs) are the following:
1. Initiated and successfully supervised the transition from a manual to an online admissions application system.
2. Supervised the automation of transcript generation, student clearance and online booking of rooms in the Halls of residence.
3. Pushed for revision of policies and regulations governing undergraduate studies in line with policies in sister institutions.
4. Successfully organised inspections and supervised the generation and submission of reports that culminated in the granting of Presidential Charter to three affiliate institutions of the University (Central University, Ashesi University and Pentecost University College).
5. Successfully engaged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in ensuring the development of an application programming interface (API) that allows real time verification of SSSCE/WASSCE results of applicants.
6. Drew up clear operational strategies that culminated in engagement with the University’s various publics. Among these were the institution of annual Press Soirees and radio programmes that featured Deans, and Heads of Department/Section/Unit who explained their programmes and activities to the general public.
7. Spearheaded the creation of an Alumni Relations Section within the Division (now Directorate) of Public Affairs.
8. Proposed and secured the establishment of the Vice-Chancellor/The Trust Bank scholarship scheme for indigenes of the communities in and around the University.
9. Was instrumental in the rebranding of the University of Cape Coast through a robust communication strategy arising from surveys carried out.
10. Protected the integrity of admissions, examinations and issuance of academic credentials.
He has attended a number of Training Workshops and Conferences either as Participant, Facilitator or Resource Person. These include National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) sponsored Senior Academic Leadership Training (SALT) programme for Senior University Managers; Carnegie Corporation sponsored Strategic Communications Workshops; Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) short course in Human Relations and Communication; Egyptian Government sponsored training programme in Electronic Government; Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Spring Institute in Educational Fundraising and a United States Department of State-Sponsored International Visitor Leadership programme in University Administration.
Mr. Onyame has served, either as Secretary, Member or Chairman, on various Boards and Committees (statutory and ad-hoc) of the University, including the Academic Board; Academic Planning and Management Committee; Board of the School of Graduate Studies; University of Cape Coast Students’ Financial Support Committee; University of Cape Coast Confucius Institute Board; Affiliated Colleges of Education Board; Administration Appointments and Promotions Committee; and the Committee on the Amendment of the University of Cape Coast Law, PNDC Law 278. He was Secretary to the Cape Coast Technical University Search Committee for Vice-Chancellor.
Over the long period of service at the University, Mr. Onyame has gained considerable knowledge, experience and competence in higher education administration and leadership. He has a record of success in servicing committees, international exposure, ability to network in French, and knowledge of the University of Cape.
Mr Onyame has to his credit, a number of reports, memoranda and publications in the area of higher education administration. Key among them are “Factors Influencing the Attraction and Retention of Senior Administrative/ Professional Staff of the University of Cape Coast (2001)”, Job Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction Among Senior Administrative/ Professional Staff of the University of Cape Coast (2001), “The Changing Image of the University of Cape Coast: Perceptions Held by the Key Publics (2004)”, Issues to Consider in Developing a Fundraising Strategy (2008). Others include “The Changing Image of the University of Cape Coast: Perceptions Held by the Key Publics (2004)”, Harnessing Alumni Support for the Development of the University of Cape Coast: Some Suggestions for Consideration (2006) and “The University of Cape Coast Five-Year (2003-2008) Corporate Strategy: The Division of Public Affairs’ Journey Through the Years.