The College of Education has hosted a Congregation ceremony for graduate students in the College. A total of 201 students graduated from the following programmes; Doctor of Philosophy in Information Studies, Master of Philosophy in Information Studies, Master of Arts in Adult Education, Master of Arts in Communication Studies, Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Management, Master of Arts in HIV and AIDS Management and Master of Arts in Information Studies.
Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, a member of the University Council and the College Advisory Board, represented the Chancellor of the University, Mr. Kofi Annan, and presided over the ceremony.
Professor Kwame Offei, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu at the ceremony, presented the Vice Chancellor’s report on the University for the 2016/2017 academic year.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that in line with the University’s vision to position itself as a “world-class research-intensive University” over the next decade, a strategic plan was launched in 2014 to serve as a roadmap towards attaining this vision. Nine strategic teams were formed and inaugurated in November 2016 to assist in making the University of Ghana a “Go to University” These teams are: • Institutional Advancement Team • Agricultural Centres Commercialization Committee • University of Ghana Rebranding and Marketing Team • Medical and Dental School Expansion Team • University of Ghana Regional/World Ranking Team • Vice-Chancellor’s Green Project Team • Independent Power Supply Team • Laboratory Modernization Team • Committee to Review the Four-year Undergraduate Programme and Grading System
The Vice-Chancellor applauded the collective efforts of the strategic teams, which were all making good progress towards the achievement of their core mandates.
The Vice-Chancellor, in his report, gave updates on admissions, research and capacity building in the University. He also spoke about financial aid to students, recent achievements of the university sports teams and increased participation in various sporting activities by staff and students. Reverend Dr. Joyce Aryee, Executive Director of the Salt and Light Ministry, who was the guest speaker at the congregation ceremony, emphasised that the direction the lives of the graduating students would take, would to a large extent depend on the decisions they make.
She challenged each of the graduating students to look beyond depending on government to provide jobs for them and encouraged them to go out, explore the possibilities, plan well, and the sky would be their limit. She gave examples of home grown heroes such as Kwame Despite of the Despite Group, Michael Agyekum Addo of KAMA Industries Limited, Kwame Ofosu Bamfo of Sikkens, Madam Justina Baidoo of the Adom Mbroso Company Limited and Dr. Theresa Beeko of the MANET Group, who had each excelled in their respective fields inspite of the challenges they had faced earlier on. Dr. Aryee urged the graduating students to be strong in their faith, and to put God first in everything they do, and much as she encouraged the graduands to try to stand on their own two feet, she stressed that there is nothing wrong with seeking support when needed from their families, friends and mentors. The valedictorian for the ceremony was Mrs. Ama Amponsah-Tawiah, who was a member of the pioneering class of the Master of Arts programme in Educational Leadership and Management, run by the School of Education and Leadership.
She expressed the appreciation of the graduating class to the staff, faculty and administration of the College of Education, as well as the families of graduating students, for their support throughout their academic journeys. She stressed that members of the graduating class were ready to contribute, unreservedly, to the development of the country. She ended by urging her fellow graduates to keep the motto of the university burning in their hearts: ‘Integri Procedamus’: indeed, let us proceed with integrity!. The ceremony also hosted the presentation of the award for the best worker in the University of Ghana for the 2016/2017 academic year, which went to Mr. Joseph Afari Assan, Principal Teacher of the University Basic Schools. The Registrar, Mrs. Mercy Haizel Ashia, who presented the award, read a citation detailing Mr. Assan’s achievements, and noted that the award winner would also receive a cash prize, and would have his name placed on the list of award winners in the Convocation Group of Buildings.
The College of Education salutes all the new graduates as well as the Best Worker! Please click to view additional pictures.