News
278 students graduate from UG school of law, college of health sciences
Mrs Nana Adjoa Hackman addressing the congregation
A total of 278 students of the 2023 batch from the School of Law and College of Health Sciences, last Saturday, graduated from the University of Ghana, Legon.
There were 218 graduands from the School of Law and 60 from the College of Health Sciences (CHS) who were con¬ferred with degrees.
The CHS constituted the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) and the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences (SBAHS).
In a speech the co-founder of Africa Legal Associates (ALA), Mrs Nana Adjoa Hackman said the advent of Artificial Intel¬ligence (AI) and other digital tools must be well embraced to enhance the efficiency of doctors and lawyers in the country.
“As a keen follower of the World Economic Forum, I believe we must be abreast of the times, by being strategic and adaptable in order to remain rele¬vant else the rapid development which is taking place shall equally retire us if we do not embrace it,” she said.
With the opportunity the Africa Conti¬nental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) presents, she said Ghana must utilise her Anglophone or Commonwealth history as an advantage in building more uni¬form principles to resolve cross-border business disputes, similar to the same pace her francophone counterparts were following.
The valedictorian for the 2023 graduat¬ing class was Mrs Abigail Nakuor Wowolo from the School of Law with a final grade point average (FGPA) of 3.72.
She said during their first-year, their aspirations of becoming esquires and doctors in their academic journey looked bleak, however with determination and support from their lecturers and parents, they overcame such frights.
“Completing the first-year seemed impossible. It was a living nightmare,” she admitted.
The valedictorian however urged her colleagues not to be solely keen on winning cases in their field of study but seek justice and uphold the principle of fairness.
“We must recognise the immense re¬sponsibility that lies ahead of us, besides the perceptions we make shall have profound impact on the lives of others,” she said.
On her part, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo announced that a second series of ceremonies would take place in January 2024; for undergraduate and postgraduate students from the various disciplines in the four colleges of the University.
She also said that the Uni¬versity Council has approved the restoration of the Accra City Campus to a semi-autonomous unit of the University.
The establishment of the new campuses will bring the UG brand and standards to the Ashanti and Western regions, thus opening up more places for the admission of undergraduate students.
“Approval has been granted for the es¬tablishment of the Takoradi and Kumasi City Campuses of the University by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and accreditation processes are almost complete for the campuses to start ad¬mitting students from the next academic year,” she revealed.
President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to remain united, grateful and prayerful despite the recent floods that claimed lives and destroyed property in parts of Accra.
Speaking at the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra, the President noted that the nation had gathered not because all its challenges had been solved, but to reflect, give thanks to God and renew its commitment to the country’s development.
He explained that throughout Ghana’s history, the nation had consistently turned to God during both difficult and successful times, describing faith as one of the country’s strongest pillars.
“We gather not as members of different political parties, ethnic groups or religions, but as one people under God,” President Mahama stated.
He encouraged Ghanaians to approach the occasion with grateful hearts, stressing that every blessing the country enjoys comes from God.
Reflecting on the recent floods that devastated parts of Accra, President Mahama acknowledged the pain of families who lost loved ones and property during the disaster.
Despite the tragedy, he urged citizens to draw strength from Scripture, quoting First Epistle to the Thessalonians Chapter 5, Verse 18, which encourages believers to give thanks in all circumstances.
The National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving brought together religious leaders, members of Parliament, the Judiciary, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, security service chiefs, traditional leaders and other dignitaries to pray for the nation and reflect on its progress and challenges.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Renowned Ghanaian businessman and an indigene of the Upper East Region, Awentami Paul Afoko, has called for the construction of an international airport in the Upper East Region, arguing that it is critical to unlocking the region’s agricultural and export potential.
Addressing stakeholders at the Regional Development Framework validation forum in Bolgatanga, Mr. Afoko said the Upper East Region possesses enormous economic opportunities that can be harnessed through strategic investment in agriculture, infrastructure,, and trade.
“As an entrepreneur, I have learnt that governments do not create businesses; entrepreneurs do. Government’s responsibility is to create the environment within which businesses can thrive,” he said.
He highlighted irrigation projects and commercial farming as key drivers of economic transformation, urging greater investment in year-round production of vegetables, fruits, and flowers for international markets.
“The challenge is not finding buyers. The challenge is producing at sufficient scale throughout the year,” he stated.
Mr. Afoko also called for investment in warehouses, cold-chain facilities, packaging centres and standardized production systems to improve the competitiveness of local products, including shea butter, basket weaving, and textiles.
“We must organise ourselves to produce standardised products and invest in warehouses, cold chains, and packaging so that we become year-round suppliers,” he said.
He stressed that an international airport would significantly boost exports from the region.
“We need an airport urgently so that flowers from the Upper East can reach Europe before Kenyan flowers do. Burkina Faso produces strawberries, and we can do the same,” he remarked.
According to Mr. Afoko, the region’s strategic location also presents opportunities to expand cross-border trade with neighbouring countries through stronger economic diplomacy.
“There is the need for an international airport in the region to enable us to seize export opportunities. Our strategic location also presents enormous opportunities to strengthen border trade,” he added.
He called on the government, diplomats, and development partners to work together to position the Upper East Region as a major agricultural and export hub in West Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
