UHAS graduates 958 Students at the 2nd Session of its 9th Congregation

The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) celebrated a momentous achievement on Saturday, May 31, 2025, as it held the 2nd Session of its 9th Congregation at the Cedi Auditorium. The ceremony witnessed the graduation of 958 postgraduate and sandwich undergraduate students from four schools of the University.

The ceremony was particularly significant as UHAS graduated its first batch of 5 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) students from the School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences. The University also celebrated a major achievement with Mr. Wisdom Kudzo Axame, who being part of the first batch of UHAS graduates in 2016 went ahead to undertake his MPhil in UHAS and crowned it with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the same UHAS Fred N. Binka School of Public Health. This accomplishment, combined with the 1,519 graduates from the first session in November 2024, brought the total number of graduates for the 2023/2024 academic year to an impressive 2,476. 

Professor Kodzo Gavua, the newly appointed Chairman of UHAS Governing Council, presided over the ceremony, marking his first major official function since the inauguration of the new Council on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Professor Gavua in his speech highlighted the University's focus on providing opportunities for nurses, midwives, public health practitioners and other healthcare professionals to upgrade their skills and pursue enhanced career prospects. 

Professor Gavua addressed several critical infrastructure issues facing the University, including the stalled Sokode-Titrinu bypass dual carriage road project and the 5.3km UHAS internal roads, which are negatively impacting campus accessibility. He however expressed optimism about government’s commitment to urgently release funds through the Ghana Highway Authority and Ministry of Roads for the completion of these important projects. 

Professor Gavua acknowledged the successful completion of the China Aid Phase II project, which includes the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Central Administration Block and expressed his appreciation to both the Chinese Government and Ghana Government. 

The Chairman also made urgent appeals for student and staff accommodations at both Ho and Hohoe campuses, calling on government and the business community for support. 

The Acting CEO of the National Vaccine Institute, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, delivered the keynote address on the theme ‘A Paragon Within Normalized Systemic Decay’. He urged the graduates to strive for excellence despite challenges, emphasizing the importance of values, integrity and conscious decision-making in achieving success. 

Dr. Sodzi-Tettey encouraged the graduates to be paragons of excellence, standing out in a world where unethical behaviors have been normalized. He also disclosed ongoing efforts for a partnership between the National Vaccine Institute and UHAS, highlighting the University's impressive research capabilities, particularly in vaccine development. 

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Lydia Aziato, delivered a comprehensive state of the University address that drew attention to several key developments. She announced the launch of the prestigious NKABOM PROJECT, a Mastercard-UHAS partnership worth $9.8 million which is a ten-year project facilitated by the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health. The project was officially launched on Thursday, May 29, 2025. 

Professor Aziato used the platform to urge global researchers and stakeholders to commit to enhancing health education through partnerships with UHAS. She charged the graduates to maintain their curiosity, embrace lifelong learning and keep pace with emerging innovations while remaining anchored by UHAS foundational values of excellence, integrity, innovation, service and care. 

Mrs. Bernice Evenunye Akosua Atsu of the School of Nursing and Midwifery emerged the Valedictorian for the 2nd Session of the 9th Congregation with a GPA of 3.92. In her address on behalf of the graduating class, she acknowledged their transformative journey from uncertainty to triumph, despite balancing academic demands with work and family responsibilities. 

Addressing the Ceremony's theme, she challenged her colleagues to combat Ghana's moral deterioration, particularly corruption in the health sector and illegal mining. She encouraged the graduates to become agents of positive change wherever they find themselves.

The overall best students from the various Schools received $250 (Cedi equivalent) each while Mrs. Bernice Evenunye Akosua Atsu, the valedictorian received a total of $2,250 (Cedi equivalent) from the Atta Mills Memorial Heritage represented by the Director, Mr. Ludwick Hlodze. 

Since its first graduation ceremony on July 23, 2016, where 171 candidates were awarded degrees, UHAS has now cumulatively graduated over 11,000 health professionals, establishing itself as a leading institution for healthcare education in Ghana and across Africa. As UHAS continues its trajectory of growth and excellence, the institution reaffirms its commitment to producing world-class health professionals. The successful 2nd Second Session of the 9th Congregation demonstrates UHAS' unwavering commitment to excellence in health education and its significant contribution to addressing Ghana's healthcare workforce needs.