15,549 Graduate at January 2024 Congregation Ceremonies

07 Feb, 2024by skdagudetse

The University of Ghana has held the January 2024 Congregation ceremonies for a total of 15,549 students from the School of Graduate Studies and undergraduate students from all the four Colleges (Basic and Applied Sciences, Education, Health Sciences and Humanities), who completed their programmes of study during the 2022/2023 academic year.

This number includes 120 PhDs; 3,389 Masters; 10,504 at the undergraduate level and 611 at the non-degree level.

In all, fifteen (15) sessions were held concurrently at the Great Hall and the Cedi Conference Centre at the Department of Economics.

While the Chancellor of the University, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, presided over the first Graduate School session, some members of the University council presided over the other sessions, on her behalf. In the Chancellor’s introductory remarks, Mrs. Chinery-Hesse, while declaring Congregation constituted for the conferment of degrees, applauded management for leveraging on technology and humanistic principles to improve on the conduct of academic and administrative work.

Chancellor of the University, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse

She pledged her support to management in this regard and urged graduating students to champion adopting the use of technology as they start work or return to the world of work. Congratulating the graduands, the Chancellor, praised the graduation class for their hardwork, dedication and unwavering commitment to their academic work. “We share in your joy, in the successful completion of your programmes of study and are proud of you’, she said.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, in her address to Congregation, reiterated the University’s commitment to research excellence. She mentioned that about USD14,000 has been awarded as conference grants for attendance at and the organisation of conferences in the University; with over GHS800,000 disbursed to 17 grantees to undertake research.

“Between September 1 and November 30, 2023, 27 new external grants were signed through the Office of Research Innovation and Development (ORID) and the Colleges with a total value of nearly USD5 million. This is certainly evidence of our growing international recognition. This remarkable achievement highlights our research capabilities and strengthens our position as a leading institution in global research and innovation”, she stated.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo

In the area of student accommodation, Prof. Amfo highlighted efforts made by management to ensure equal access, through the introduction of the Open Randomised Bed Allocation System. This system ensures a fair and transparent process in bed allocation, offering all students an equal opportunity of being allocated a room as well as the continued engagement with private partners to expand student accommodation, with several hostels at various stages of completion. She was confident of these measures meeting the increasing student accommodation needs.

While congratulating the graduating class, the Vice-Chancellor, said, “You are now poised to step into a world that awaits your contributions, armed with the wisdom and values imparted by this great institution”.

All fifteen sessions had guest speakers chosen for their various achievements to inspire the graduands. The guest speakers were Prof. Afua A. J. Hesse, Mr. Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, Senior Partner, KPMG Ghana; Mr. Eric Nana Nipah, Advisory Leader for Ghana and PwC’s Restructuring, Insolvency and Forensics Practice in the West Africa Area; Mrs. Jacqueline Obeng-Ansong, Multiple Award Winning Business Leader; Mr. Kwamina Asomaning, CEO, Stanbic Bank Ghana; Ms. Sandra Thompson, Convener, Bank of Ghana Board of Directors; Ms. Golda Esi Andam, Deputy Director, Ghana Education Service; Ms. Doreen Hammond, Editor, The Mirror newspaper by Graphic Communications Group Limited; Ms. Ama Lawson, General Manager, Human Resource, Media General and Dr. Albert Antwi- Boasiako, Director-General, Cyber Security Authority.

Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako was one of the guest speakers at the congregation ceremonies

Dissolving the congregation ceremonies, the Chancellor charged all the graduates to embrace change as an opportunity for growth. “The knowledge you have gained in these walls is the foundation but your ability to learn, unlearn and relearn will be the key to navigating the complexities of the world that awaits you”, she opined.

The Chancellor shared her anticipation in seeing them become compassionate leaders, who are guided by empathy and social responsibility as they contribute to solving the nation’s challenges. She also encouraged them to maintain links with the University and be active members of the University of Ghana Alumni Association.

A cross-section of graduating students at one of the sessions of the congregation ceremonies

The ceremonies were livened with exciting performances from the School of Performing Arts, including the Brass Ensemble, Dr. Kofi Anthonio and students from the Department of Dance Studies as well as Dr. Alfred Patrick Addaquay from the Department of Music.

All the ceremonies were streamed live on the University’s social media handles.

Please click the links below to watch the various sessions of the January 2024 Congregation ceremonies:

TUESDAY, 23^RD JANUARY 2024

MORNING SESSIONS

GREAT HALL:
School of Graduate Studies (SGS)
All PhD/MPHIL/MFA Dissertation
MSc. Health Informatics

YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/live/SAbI3x4h5X0?feature=share

CEDI CONFERENCE CENTRE:
College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS)
BSc. (School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences)
BSc. Engineering
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (SVM)

YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/live/utF-z6p_Cz8?feature=share

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

GREAT HALL:
College of Humanities (COH)
Bachelor of Arts

YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/live/FTYqkr2GWYM?feature=share

WEDNESDAY, 24^TH JANUARY 2024

MORNING SESSIONS

GREAT HALL:
College of Humanities (COH)
Bachelor of Arts

YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/live/BR1Obh8sEs0?feature=share

CEDI CONFERENCE CENTRE:
School of Graduate Studies (SGS)
MA / MSc /Master of Research and Public Policy

YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/live/g-YmG8QM5dg?feature=share

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

GREAT HALL:
College of Education (COE)
Diploma / BSc. Nursing