The 4th Session of the 5th UHAS Congregation graduated students from the schools of Allied Health Sciences, Nursing and Midwifery, and Public Health, who successfully pursued bachelor’s degrees through the Sandwich programmes offered to working professionals seeking to augment their educationional qualifications. Mrs. Sally Benyih, an experienced MRI technologist, who graduated with a Bachelor of Medical Imaging (BMI) from the School of Allied Health Sciences, was Valedictorian. This 4th session also graduated 24 post-graduate students from School of Allied Health Sciences and School of Public Health. The first three sessions were held last November.
Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, Presidential Coordinator of the Government of Ghana’s COVID-19 Response, and formerly Deputy Director-General of WHO, was the guest of honour for the occasion, in addition to having presented the annual Leadership Lecture the previous day. The University, as per UHAS tradition, conferred an honorary doctorate degree (honoris causa) on him for his long and fruitful career, dedicated to “securing universal access to high quality health care and treatment for millions of people all over the world.”
Mr. Justice Victor J.M. Dotse, Chairman of the University Council, assured the public that despite the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, management continues to steadily steer the affairs of the University in the right direction by ensuring safe and effective teaching, learning and administrative work: “We introduced the Learning Management Software, which helped reduce student numbers in the classroom in compliance with COVID-19 protocols.”
He expressed the desire that in no time, Phase II of the China Aided Expansion Project to construct the University’s central administration and the School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM), would be completed to pave way for a major infrastructural boost for teaching and research work, and increase in enrolment. Work began on Phase II on 30 March 2021.
Justice Dotse also said, in spite of making remarkable progress on several fronts, the infrastructural challenge of impassable roads still lingers, and appealed to “the supervising Ministry to provide funds to enable work to be executed without delay” on the internal road network of the University and surrounding roads.
Vice Chancellor Professor John O. Gyapong, in his report to Congregation, revealed that UHAS has received the necessary approval to establish the School of Dentistry, which will be incubated in the School of Medicine. This would be the latest addition to the University’s structure, following the addition of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine that began operating at the start of this current academic year. The University has also received approval from Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to begin offering various post-graduate programmes.
Prof. Gyapong noted that, although the process of education had been somewhat tough on the students, “I am very confident that the rigorous training received here has sufficiently prepared you by equipping you with the skills necessary to surmount challenges that may lie ahead as you seek to advance in your chosen fields.” He charged them to continue their affiliations with the University by enrolling in the various post-graduate programmes, taking up appointments, and being active members of the alumni association.
Special Guest Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Energy and a friend of this University, told the audience, which included dignitaries, staff and students, that the UHAS vision of being a pre-eminent research and practically oriented health institution wholly dedicated to community service, “when pursued diligently, will result in the application of knowledge in providing Ghanaian solutions to Ghanaian challenges.” This, he said would light the path to health sustainability. He added, “products of this university must be of sufficient calibre to serve in any part of Ghana and not the Volta region alone.”
