News
Visually impaired student named valedictorian at University of Ghana
Mr Ephraim Ayeh Oracca-Tetteh, a visually impaired student, has achieved a perfect 4.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), earning the prestigious title of valedictorian for the University of Ghana’s 2025 graduating class.
Mr Oracca-Tetteh was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Classics and Philosophy.
His remarkable accomplishment was celebrated at the College of Humanities congregation held at the University’s Great Hall.
Mr Oracca-Tetteh’s journey to academic excellence began at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2017 but was interrupted when his eyesight began to deteriorate.
Despite this challenge, he persevered and was transferred to the University of Ghana, where he thrived.
Beyond his academic achievements, Mr Oracca-Tetteh demonstrated leadership skills, serving as the organiser and Public Relations Officer for the association of students with special needs.
He also actively advocated inclusivity and accessibility of students with disability within the University.
In his valedictorian speech, Mr Oracca-Tetteh acknowledged the difficulties faced by the graduating class of 2024, including the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to modular learning, and personal hardships.
He emphasised the resilience of his classmates and the crucial role of the university’s support systems in their success.
Mr Oracca-Tetteh highlighted the transformative power of assistive technology in bridging accessibility gaps for students with special needs and shared his personal experience of how technology enabled him to fully engage with course materials and communicate effectively with lecturers.
Mr Oracca-Tetteh praised the University of Ghana’s commitment to inclusivity and its embrace of innovation and technology to support students with diverse needs.
Mr Kwame Agyepong Oppong, the Guest Speaker and Head of Fintech and Innovation, Bank of Ghana, tasked the graduands to remain committed to serving the country through their respective career choices.
“Let the course of Ghana and Africa be seared in your minds and be engraved on your hearts until you draw your last breath. From these lessons, I hope you are more assured that it does work out in the end,” he said.
The University of Ghana’s graduation ceremony, spanning seven days, will see a total of 18,780 students receive their degrees across 18 sessions.
The graduating class comprises 123 PhDs, 3,444 masters’ degrees, 11,067 undergraduate degrees, and 1,116 diplomas. —GNA
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has held its Fourth Quarter Ministerial Advisory Board Meeting to review progress, discuss key policy matters, and strengthen collaboration towards achieving its strategic goals.
The meeting brought together members of the Advisory Board, which was set up under Section 39 of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDCL 327), and the Civil Service (Ministerial Advisory Board) Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1961).
The Board serves as a platform for continuous engagement between the Ministry and its stakeholders.
Its role is to advise the sector Minister on policy planning and implementation, while ensuring that programmes on gender, social protection, and child welfare align with national priorities and government development goals.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, commended the Board for its consistent support and technical guidance in advancing the Ministry’s mandate.
She noted that the Ministry’s work in promoting gender equality, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring the welfare of children and families depends on strong policies and effective partnerships.
Dr. Lartey stressed that the Advisory Board plays an important role in helping the Ministry deliver its mission in a sustainable and impactful way.
A major highlight of the meeting was a presentation on the Ministry’s achievements so far this year, followed by discussions on future policy direction and strategic focus areas.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Africa Geopolitical Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The election took place on October 19, 2025, during the ongoing 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. His victory places Ghana at the center of continental and global parliamentary diplomacy.
With this new role, Speaker Bagbin will coordinate and harmonize Africa’s collective positions on major IPU decisions and policies.
He will also serve as the continent’s chief representative on key issues such as governance, peace, security, and sustainable development.
Speaker Bagbin currently serves as the President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL) and is the immediate past Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International.
In his remarks after the election, he thanked African delegations for their confidence and unity, particularly commending Nigeria for seconding his nomination and Senegal for withdrawing its candidate in the spirit of cooperation.
He pledged to strengthen collaboration among African parliaments and promote transparency, democratic governance, and sustainable development through stronger legislative institutions.
He succeeds Ms. Angela Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, who served with distinction.
The Africa Geopolitical Group, formed in the early 1950s, serves as a continental branch of the IPU, ensuring fair representation of African countries in the Union’s committees and decision-making bodies.
It also coordinates Africa’s common positions on major parliamentary issues discussed at IPU assemblies.
By: Jacob Aggrey
