Political Will Vital – Prof. Tagoe

Professor Mensah making a presentation Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, has called for political commitment in harnessing quality education in the country.

Speaking at a joint congregation and matriculation ceremony of the Catholic University College of Ghana (CUGG) at Fiapre in the Brong Ahafo Region over the weekend, he called on government to exercise political will in taking decisions if they stand to improve the country's educational system or ensure national development.

“Universities have a major role to play in producing human resource and in undertaking the necessary research for development. The global environment, coupled with the complexities of modern-day governance, advancement in science and technology, and the ICT revolution call for a highly trained labour force,” he noted.

Prof. Tagoe further called on government to ensure that teachers are well trained and motivated, adding that CUGG and the University of Ghana would liaise with each other for the running of Allied Science programmes at Fiapre.

Addressing the ceremony, the Vice-President of CUGG, Professor James Hawkins Ephraim, entreated the 175 matriculants to live above reproach by dressing decently and studying hard, and gave the assurance that the university would become autonomous by 2013.

According to him, going autonomous would enable the university to award its own degrees and also establish satellite campuses across the country.

For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, said the church sees education as vital in the nurturing of the intellectual faculties of students.

Later in a short address, the Best All Round Student, Master Frederick Femenu Duvor, thanked the school administration for guiding them in attaining their dreams by shaping their destinies through the courses they had read at the university.

Duvor, who obtained First Class Honours in Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration, advised the 92 graduate students to maintain themselves as good ambassadors of the university, and at the same time urged matriculants to use their time profitably.

Five students had First Class Honours, 27 had Second Class Upper, and 41 had Second Class Lower, while 8 obtained Third Class.

By Bennett Akuaku