UG Holds Congregation Ceremony for School of Law

The University of Ghana has celebrated its School of Law Class of 2022 at a congregation ceremony held for the 127 students who successfully completed their programme of study during the 2021/2022 academic year.

The ceremony presided over by the Chancellor of the University, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, saw the conferment of Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree on 90 females and 37 males.

In her opening remarks, the Chancellor congratulated the students on successfully completing their programme of study. She applauded them for their hard work and efforts to satisfy the requirements for graduation and charged them to allow their achievements to have a positive impact on the society. Mrs. Chinery-Hesse also commended the Management of the University for efforts to alleviate the perennial accommodation challenges and urged students who will be beneficiaries of such facilities to properly maintain the equipment and facilities which will be used by successive cohorts of students.

Mrs. Chinery-Hesse saluted the faculty and all University of Ghana trained lawyers who continue to play a pivotal role in the national discourse by breaking down national issues to be easily understood by the public. She reiterated the need to balance the training of the large number of lawyers in the country with the quality of education offered as well as the provision of human and material resources for the institutions that train our lawyers. “The world we live in has changed exponentially since the Legal Profession Act, ACT 32, was passed 62 years ago and there is the urgent need for its revision to reflect these changes and make the training of lawyers in Ghana more relevant, in tune with the world we live in today”, she added.

Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gordon Awandare, in his address to Congregation highlighted developments within the University during the academic year. 

Pointing to the credibility of the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme in relation to the latest Auditor-General's report on the accreditation of programmes run by universities, Prof. Awandare said, “it is important to put on record that our Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme, is duly accredited, and its accreditation is valid until July 2023”. He also announced that the School of Law will receive various accreditation panels from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), from September to October this year, for the accreditation and reaccreditation of various programmes; similar processes are taking place across all the schools in the University to ensure that all programmes remain in good standing.

He mentioned that as part of efforts to digitalise the University’s administrative processes to improve efficiency, steps have been taken to develop an Automated Graduation System to generate pass lists for graduation. The major programming of the system has been completed and awaits vigorous testing and probing to address all gaps. He also mentioned a roll out of an Online Student Academic Record Request Portal for the convenience of all stakeholders and the report of a taskforce that was set up to decentralise and digitalise the work of the School of Graduate Studies, which has been approved by the Business and Executive Committee and is being implemented.

Prof. Awandare also reported on various projects initiated to address the shortage in student accommodation, adding that Project overheads are being mobilised, under the Infrastructure Development Fund, to complete the Africa Integras Project hostel, projected to add 1,000 beds. He added that tenders are being evaluated for the commencement of work on the construction of a Ghana Universities Staff Superannuation Scheme (GUSSS) Hostel Project, intended to add 4,500 beds. Further, the University has partnered with Goldkey Properties Ltd. and Vanguard Properties International Ltd. to construct 20,000-bed and 5,432-bed hostels respectively.

He highlighted the visibility of the University through social media and stated that the Public Affairs Directorate continuously shares information using the social media channels. Prof. Awandare urged all to follow the University on the platforms and share the University’s content.

Prof. Gordon Awandare

The Acting Vice-Chancellor also stated that the University is undertaking a review of the 2014 – 2024 Strategic Plan with the view to: determine levels of achievement, factors and constraints that hampered the achievement of some objectives and proposing a framework for a new Strategic Plan that will help the University address identified challenges and pave the way for continued achievements. “Also, a Committee has been set up to review and update the University’s Statutes. The review is to reflect the collegiate status adopted in 2014, and various other changes in governance that have taken place since the current statutes were approved in 2010. It is expected that the review would be completed by early next year”, he said.

Prof. Awandare further mentioned that the University has launched its 75th anniversary. He encouraged all to look out for the schedule of activities when released, and to participate in as many of the planned activities as possible.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor expressed a hearty congratulations to all the graduates and wished them the best as they proceed to take entrance examinations into the Ghana School of Law.

Ms. Isabel Boaten, Managing Partner at AB & David Africa, in her speech as the Guest of Honour, congratulated the graduating class on the achievement and charged them to answer to achieve excellence in all their endeavours. This she said, could be achieved by renewing their minds and hearts. Ms. Boaten shared some of the lessons she has learned during her legal journey such as believing in yourself yet understanding that there is room for improvement, not being afraid to shine and exhibiting integrity. “Wealth, overt exhibitions of success without scruples, without integrity, is not an extraordinary life. The need to live life with urgency does not mean cutting corners and doing what is unethical and illegal”, she explained.

Ms. Isabel Boaten

Miss. Davina Seyram Gbedy, in her valedictory message expressed profound gratitude to the Management and faculty of the University for the time and effort spent to impact them with knowledge. She appreciated families and guardians of the graduates for their constant support throughout the journey. She was nostalgic about some of the good and challenging memories they shared as a Class and called on the graduates to “keep thriving in the challenges and joys of being alive and proceed in truth and integrity”.

Miss. Davina Seyram Gbedy

Dissolving the congregation ceremony, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse charged all the graduates to be worthy ambassadors of the University. “We count on you to use the power of the knowledge you have acquired to better the world”, she said. The Chancellor encouraged them to maintain links with the University and be active members of the University of Ghana Alumni Association. She also recognised the efforts of parents, families and well-wishers who have contributed significantly to the success of the graduates. Mrs. Chinery-Hesse also extended appreciation to Ms. Isabel Boaten for gracing the occasion as well as all who contributed to the planning of the congregation ceremony.

The ceremony was interspersed by performances by the Ghana Dance Ensemble and streamed live on all the University’s social media handles.