The University of Ghana has held a Congregation ceremony for students of the College of Education who have successfully completed their programmes of study in the 2017/2018 academic year. A total of 844 students made up of 6 graduate students, 727 undergraduates and 93 Diploma students graduated.
In a brief remark, the Registrar, Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia, indicated that the graduands were the last batch of the two cohorts of students admitted in January instead of the usual September admission and hence completing their degree programmes in January this year. She also disclosed that this was the last time the April Congregation ceremony would be held.
Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, Chancellor of the University, in her declaration of purpose extended a warm welcome to all gathered and hearty a congratulations to the graduands. In the Chancellor’s remarks, she stated that since the introduction of the collegiate system of governance, Congregations have been held on College basis, with this particular ceremony dedicated to the College of Education. She finally declared the Congregation duly constituted to confer degrees.
Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, Chancellor
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, Professor Kwame Offei delivered the Vice-Chancellor’s address. The address highlighted some achievements of the various strategic teams, successes in the area of teaching, learning and research, on-going infrastructural developments.
Professor Kwame Offei, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic and Student Affairs)
Mrs. Ellen Hagan, Founder and Director of L’AINE Services Limited and guest speaker for the ceremony charged the graduands to take their health seriously and celebrate little successes they achieve. She also charged them to vary their strategies in developing themselves and offer themselves for unpaid internships. The CIMG Marketing Woman of the year, 2013 also urged the graduands to define their purpose and create a niche for themselves.
Mrs. Ellen Hagan- Congregation Speaker
Presenting the valedictory address on behalf of the graduands, Ms. Deborah Nana Ama Abbey lauded the tremendous support given by the University. She charged her colleagues to identify their passion and develop it. She also urged them to use the knowledge acquired from the University and beyond to better themselves. Ms. Abbey further congratulated her fellow graduands for successfully completing their respective programmes of study and wished them well in their future endeavours.
Ms. Deborah Nana Ama Abbey
In the course of the ceremony, three outstanding graduating students were given academic awards. They included Mr. Edmond Teye Agbovi who received the Wisdom Sedofia Korsinah Award for the Best Graduating student in BSc. Administration in the Distance Education Programme while the Felix Nyarko-Pong prize for the Best Graduating Bachelor of Arts student in the Distance Education Programme went to Ms. Deborah Nana Ama Abbey. The Professor Cephas Narh Omenyo Prize for the Best Graduating Distance Education Student was awarded to Mr. Benjamin, Teyiamo. The late Joseph Namgbe, formerly of the Environmental Health Services Unit was awarded the best worker for 2018 post-humously.
Present at the ceremony were Prof. Yaw Twumasi, Chairman, University of Ghana Council, Prof. Francis Dodoo, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Development, Members of the University Council, Provosts, Deans, Directors, members of the University and guests of graduands.
A cross section of graduands at the ceremony
As part of efforts to ease traffic congestion associated with congregation ceremonies, a park and ride system was employed. Shuttle services were provided to convey graduands and their guests to the congregation grounds after parking their vehicles at designated parking lots. This was successfully implemented with the help of volunteers from the University of Ghana Plastic Recycling Project, and student cadets from Commonwealth Hall, Akuafo Hall and Mensah Sarbah Hall.
Cadet Volunteers
Members of the University of Ghana Plastic Recycling Project
Please click here for the video of the event