Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo Inducted As Vice Chancellor

27 Oct, 2021by skdagudetse

The University of Ghana has inducted Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo as the new Vice-Chancellor, becoming the 13th Executive Head and first female Vice-Chancellor of the University. The induction ceremony was presided over by the Chancellor, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse.

The Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, in her declaration of purpose extended a warm welcome to all who joined the University both online and onsite to witness the swearing-in of Prof. Amfo. She explained the laws undergirding the search for a Vice-Chancellor and expressed appreciation to the teams responsible for putting together the ceremony at a short notice.

Welcoming the guests to the ceremony, the Chancellor, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse noted with joy and pride that “it is under my Chancellorship that the University has sworn in a female Vice-Chancellor.” She highlighted Prof. Amfo’s team building skills and deep appreciation of the governance machinery of the University. She urged the Vice-Chancellor to rally the support of the entire University community to improve on the fortunes of the University of Ghana.

Chancellor, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse

In her Induction Address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, expressed her sincere gratitude to the Council of the University of Ghana for the demonstration of confidence and trust by endorsing the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor Search Party. She acknowledged those who had also contested for the position of Vice-Chancellor, particularly the four other women who competed in previous Vice-Chancellor races, and paid tribute to all women academics at the University.

Sharing her vision for the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo promised to create a culture that promotes research, teaching and learning, administrative processes and extension activities driven by technology and anchored in humanism. She identified six key strategic objectives to drive the University to achieve its vision of attaining a world class research institution status. They are, to reinvigorate impactful research in the (applied) sciences and humanities; develop technology-driven and robust processes in research management, teaching and learning, and all other institutional processes; strengthen traditional revenue streams and expand alternative income sources to meet debt obligations as well as ensure the robustness of mechanisms for the prudent management of resources to guarantee value for money to ensure success and avoid failures and debts; lead a vibrant and responsive governance and management system; increase the University’s visibility by ensuring a strong web presence through aggressive propagation of its achievements and outputs via appropriate (social) media/web outlets; create a sense of ownership and commitment among students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo

She proposed to harness the bountiful talents in the University for the collective good through the promotion of creativity and innovation in teaching and learning. “Our classrooms will be modernized to allow for the use of modern pedagogical aids which permit, among other things, lecture capture for reuse in non-contact situations. Our faculty will receive continuous training in modern pedagogical skills”, said Prof. Amfo.

The Vice-Chancellor stated that it was important for the University’s students and graduates to be adequately prepared for the fourth industrial revolution. She opined, “My goal as Vice-Chancellor will be for the University to train students who are critical thinkers, technologically adept, humane, culturally sensitive and ready to provide leadership for the country and the continent. I will focus on developing 21st century citizenry skills of our students”.

Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo put forward an initiative dubbed, One Student One Laptop Policy. The Project she said, would form part of the University’s commitment to upscale technology which is critical in making staff and students to function effectively in this era of technological advancement.

Prof. Amfo shared the importance of grooming the next generation of leaders at the University of Ghana through actively involving them in university governance and management, and facilitating structured leadership and management training programmes through the new Legon Leadership Academy plan.

Delivering his remarks as the Guest Speaker, the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, congratulated Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, and assured her of his support. He described the induction ceremony as historic since the University’s heads of succession have all been male. ‘ The Premier University, the University of Ghana, Legon, has as of now a new Vice-Chancellor who is female, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, warm congratulations and the best of luck and God’s guidance in the discharge of your duties’, President Akufo-Addo said.

His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Earlier, the Chair of the University Council, Her Ladyship Justice Sophia Akuffo (Rtd.) read the profile of Prof. Appiah Amfo and assisted the Chancellor, Mrs. Chinery Hesse in robing the newly inducted Vice-Chancellor.

There were spirited performances by the Ghana Dance Ensemble, the University of Ghana Jubilee Choir, and the Ghana Police Band.

Present at the Induction ceremony were Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, justices of the Supreme Court, Deputy Governors of Bank of Ghana, former and current Members of the University Council, former Vice-Chancellors, former and current Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Provosts, Registrars, Deans and Directors. The rest included Vice-Chancellors of sister universities, Principals of affiliate Colleges of Education, religious and traditional leaders, officials of the University, other members of the University community, family members of the Vice-Chancellor and the general public.