Her Ladyship Chief Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo Delivers 2019 Alumni Lecture

Her Ladyship Chief Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo

Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Sophia A. B.  Akuffo has urged Ghanaians to strive for excellence in nation building, arguing that in a nation where excellence is rewarded, mediocrity would be shrunk and greatness would thrive.

Her Ladyship Justice Akuffo who said this at the 2019 University of Ghana Alumni Lecture encouraged Ghanaians to celebrate excellence.  She affirmed that excellence was required of everybody, and that the Judicial Service of Ghana had chosen to walk the path of excellence by using information and communication technology (ICT) tools to deliver expeditious justice.

 “A national commitment to excellence will mean that we all expect the best from each other; that excuses will not do; and everyone will be held to the same high standards,” Her Ladyship Justice Akuffo indicated. The lecture which touched on five areas - resistance to positive change; effective deployment of new technologies as a result of huge investment required to execute tasks; and how to strategize to achieve excellence was on the theme “Questing for Excellence”.

Her Ladyship Justice Akuffo urged students of the University of Ghana to embrace positive mind-sets in their endeavours and cautioned students on the misuse of social media. She however encouraged them to be abreast of technology and also utilise it positively if they desired to achieve positive results.

Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu

Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana, who chaired the lecture, described Excellence as a journey which strives on achieving progress. He added that, aspiring for excellence was crucial in national development. Prof. Owusu encouraged the culture of excellence in every home and institution to enable Ghana catch up with the rest of the world. He noted that, children at their early childhood must be nurtured towards excellence. “It is time to inculcate the attitude of excellence, taking into account every step, or else Ghana will be swept off its sweet potential”, he said. He added that, excellence must be celebrated.

Mr Richard Obeng Okrah, Chairman of UGAA, called on the alumni of the University to stand and be counted with their time and treasure to the benefit of their alma mater. He said alumni allegiances appeared to be more focused on the Halls of Residence, adding that while maintaining Hall allegiances, it was time to combine efforts to leverage diversity in the greater interest of the University as a whole.

“Our history and heritage demand that as alumni, ancient and modern, we do more to be part of the future of this great institution”, he added.

He said the Alumni Association plans a mega-fund raising initiative in the immediate term to solicit funds from a critical mass of at least 150,000 Alumni of the University, corporate institutions, multilateral agencies, governmental and non-governmental agencies, as well as the public to raise an amount of GH₵200 million for the University.

Mr. Richard Obeng Okrah, Chairman, University of Ghana Alumni Association, 

Mr.  Okrah noted that UGAA was also collaborating with the Alumni Relations Office of the University to provide a database of Alumni who would be contacted to make donations on a portal that was being developed, saying, the money raised would be their direct Endowment to the University.

He noted that in the short to medium term, they plan to issue another GH₵500 million with amortization structures to potential investors for investment in hostels. He disclosed that the details of these fundraising initiatives would be spelt out shortly in a ‘Road Show’, scheduled to start before the end of the year.

The lecture attracted officials of the University, Senior Members, Council, Executives and Members of the Alumni Association, former Vice Chancellors, Pro-Vice Chancellors and Registrars, as well as Members of Parliament, from the Judiciary, Traditional rulers, staff and students.

Presentation was made to Her Ladyship Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo, by Old Girls of Wesley Girls High School, Volta Hall, University of Ghana Law Faculty and the University of Ghana Alumni Association (UGAA).

Presentation from Alumni Council Members: from left, Mr. Richard Obeng Okrah, Mrs. Adelaide Benneh, Mr. John Mbroh and Ms. Rebecca Donkor

 Her Ladyship Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo receiving a presentation from the Old Girls Association of Wesley Girls High School

Volta Hall making a presentation to Her Ladyship Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo

University of Ghana Law School presenting to Her Ladyship Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo

Mr. Osei Korankye in his seprewa performance 

 

A cross-section of audience at the lecture