5046 students who successfully completed their programmes in the 2011/2012 academic year have graduated from the University of Ghana. The colourful congregation ceremony took place last Saturday at the Athletics Oval. Graduands were from the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences and the School of Graduate Studies.
At the Bachelors level, out of 4038 graduands, a total of 657 students representing 16.3 percent obtained First Class Honours, while 1181 or 29.2 percent obtained Second Class Upper. 1711 representing 42.4 percent obtained Second Class Lower, with 445 representing 11 percent, obtaining third Class. 24.4 percent of the 505 Diploma students obtained distinctions, with the remaining obtaining passes. In addition, there were 503 post-graduate graduands including 14 Doctor of Philosophy candidates.
In his address, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ernest Aryeetey enumerated a number of significant developments the University has undergone over the past academic year. He mentioned in particular the University’s decision to move to a collegiate system. This he said will allow for more efficiency and less bureaucracy in the University’s operations considering the rapid rate of growth and expansion experienced over the last 65 years.
Professor Aryeetey also mentioned attempts at introducing meal plans for students beginning from the 2013/2014 academic year. He explained that this idea will offer students more healthy and nutritious food within a safe environment, at reasonable prices in their halls of residence. He added that this service will initially target fresh men and women and will be gradually introduced to continuing students.
The Vice-Chancellor announced that the last batch of admissions to Diploma programmes at the University of Ghana will be in the 2015/2016 academic year. This he said is as a result of management’s decision to phase out all Diploma programmes over the next four years which is also in line with the University’s stated objective of focusing more on post-graduate training. In addition Prof. Aryeetey mentioned a number of new programmes that have been recently introduced at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. These include Bachelor of Science programmes in Information Technology, Actuarial Science and Agricultural Extension. Others are a Masters’ programme in Climate Change and Sustainable Development and another in Research and Public Policy.
The Vice-Chancellor mentioned major infrastructural Developments in the University, particularly the 600-Bed Teaching Hospital which will serve as a facility for trauma and emergency services, heart surgery and medical imaging. He also mentioned the asphaltic resealing and tolling of selected roads on campus to ease the traffic situation to and from the University.
The Vice-Chancellor offered condolences to the families of three students who died in separate accidents recently , whiles at the same time imploring pedestrians and motorists on the roads and walkways to be patient and cautious at all times, to avoid the repetition of such tragic incidents in the future.
Professor Aryeetey hinted that the University will from this year graduate its students in smaller ceremonies by College or Faculty, soon after the completion their studies, starting from this year, he said that two sets of week long graduation events will be held in July and November each year.
The Vice-Chancellor advised all the graduands to put all they had learnt from the University into practice, particularly excellence, integrity, discipline, modesty and value judgment. He expressed the hope that the graduands will use the physical, mental and social training they had acquired from the University to meet any challenges they might face head-on and come out with creative solutions to them.
Some staff of the university also received special awards and had their read out. Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences received the Distinguished Award for Meritorious Service. The Best Teacher Award for the Humanities was received by Dr. Francis Yaw Banuro; Dr. Malcolm Nuertey Josiah received the Best Teacher Award for the Sciences, while Mr. John Kwasi Yakah, was acknowledged as the Best Worker for 2012.
The Special Guest of Honour, Ms. Betty Enyonam Kumahor, Managing Director, of Africa Thoughtworks, urged the graduands to build their African Dreams by having audacious beliefs, taking chances, working hard and paying their way forward.
This years Congregation ceremony was attended by the former Minister of Finance, Mr. Kwabena Duffuor, the former flag bearer of the Convention Peoples’ Party, Dr. Abu Sakara as well as representatives from sister Universities. Also in attendance were members of the University Council, the two Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Provosts, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and Halls, members of Convocation, the Press and members of the public.
