The Department of Distance Education, as a united family, organized a farewell ceremony for three of its retiring and departing staff members, Dr. Akweley Otoo, Ms. Valentine Gemegah, and Mr. Erick Adjei Mantey, at the Smart Classroom of the School of Continuing and Distance Education on August 1, 2024.
Dr. Akweley Ohui Otoo retired from the service of the University of Ghana on July 31, 2023. She was a lecturer at the Department of Distance Education specializing in Psychology. The HoD and staff recognized her exceptional teaching, career coaching of staff, and her counsel. Moreover, her dedication to the advancement of the Department was not overlooked. Faculty and staff of the Department acknowledged their admiration towards Dr. Akweley, asserting that both students and staff had greatly benefited from her counselling and mentorship, for which they were deeply grateful.
Ms. Valentine Gemegah retired from the services of the University of Ghana on July 31, 2024, having served for thirty-four (34) years. She retired as a Chief Administrative Assistant at the Department of Distance Education. The Head of Department (HoD), Prof. Samuel Amponsah, acknowledged the passion and selflessness of Ms. Valentine, emphasizing her devotedness to work, kindness, active responsiveness to issues, willingness to coach others, and patience. Furthermore, staff members expressed their appreciation towards Ms. Valentine, stressing how they have benefitted from her commitment and interpersonal relationship. They further stressed her excellent student support competencies. With much sentimentality, the HoD and staff expressed profound gratitude and highlighted that Ms. Valentine’s departure would create a significant void both personally and professionally at the University of Ghana.
In similar terms, Mr. Erick Adjei Mantey, a chief driver at the Department for the past seven (7) years, has been transferred to the Accra Campus Learning Centre. He was commended for his exceptional punctuality and driving prowess. The HoD and staff could not hide their sentiment about Mr. Mantey's remarkable interpersonal relationship. They shared their experiences, stressing his concern for the welfare of staff, timeliness, and commitment towards work.
Following the presentation of appreciation gifts to the retirees, they expressed their heartfelt gratitude towards the Department and its leadership for fostering a supportive and family-like work environment throughout their tenure. They emphasized how the opportunities for learning and collaboration have significantly contributed to their career goals, while also nurturing meaningful interpersonal relationships with colleagues across all levels of the organization. This enriching experience, they indicated, has greatly enhanced their job satisfaction.
