Hon. Bryan Acheampong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi has urged government to provide the needed assistance to enable them contribute towards the promotion of quality education in Ghana.
The MP who was the guest speaker made the call during the 20th congregation of Methodist University Ghana (MUG) held within the premises of the university in Accra over the weekend.
The theme for the 20th Congregation of the university is ‘Promoting Quality Tertiary Education in Post COVID-19 Era’, “The Role of Private University”.
Addressing graduates and a gathering at the ceremony, Mr. Acheampong noted that it was high time the MUG and other private universities in Ghana adapt and transition from traditional to a blend of traditional and distance learning formats through virtual classrooms.
He continued that a careful look at the level of contribution of MUG and other private universities to education in Ghana would reveal that the universities have done marvelously well and therefore requires government’s support to enable them do more.
He urged lecturers of the university to join other educators in current era exhibit traits of leadership, teamwork, creativity and Information Technology IT so as to enhance effective teaching and learning in the school.
Concluding, the Abetifi Member of Parliament noted that it was in line with enhancing education in the country that he urged government to support the university and other private ones and added that the assistance when offered would go a long way to enhance teaching and learning in the university.
In an earlier address to the gathering at the congregation ceremony, Most Reverend Dr Paul Boafo, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Methodist University Ghana (MUG) encouraged the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led-government to take into consideration the idea of state funding for MUG and other private universities.
According when adhered to, it would increase the capacity of private universities especially in the area of research and training and quickly added that the enormous benefit to the country would be countless.
He told the ceremony that a total number of 733 students were being conferred with various undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and diplomas. He added that out of the total number, 525 were undergraduate students while 208 were postgraduate students.
According to him 12 special awards were presented to deserving graduating students for their excellent performances of which five were undergraduate students and seven being postgraduate students. He mentioned Mr Benjamin Donkor as the overall best under graduate student and further pointed out that a cash prize and a plaque was handed to him.
Just before taking his seat, Most Rev. Dr Boafo articulated MUG’s profound gratitude to the government for granting the university a Presidential Charter this year to enable it become autonomous after years of affiliation to the University of Ghana (UG), Legon.
He commented that MUG would continue to receive support from the Methodist Church anytime MUG require support to carry out its mandate.
Concluding, he urged the graduates to ensure that they make good use of the acquired knowledge, skills, attitudes and training and should always be worthy ambassadors of MUG.
For his part, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Very Rev Professor John David Kwamena Ekem announced to the excitement of the gathering that MUG had received approval from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council to extend its Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing programme to its Dansoman and Tema campuses.
He stated that approval followed an appeal made to the two regulatory bodies after it granted the University accreditation to commence the programme on its Wenchi campus last year.
The programme is expected to take off on all three campuses from January next year.
He continued that MUG was also awaiting final approval from GTEC to offer other programmes such as Master of Art (MA) in Public Policy and Governance, Resource Management and Organisational Development and Corporate Leadership and Governance. Others, he said are Doctor of Counselling Psychology, Master of Science (MSc) in Procurement and Supply Chain Management and Accounting and Finance.
On other programmes that have been submitted to GTEC for approval, he mentioned Bachelor of Science in Public Health Nursing, Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation and quickly added that MUG had entered into collaboration with universities from other countries as a way of imparting knowledge and skills in disciplines relevant to the general global development and hope build on it in subsequent academic years.
In his valedictory speech, Benjamin Kwame Donkor, the Overall Best Student, noted that MUG has given him and his colleagues graduates the academic qualification, moral transition, values and virtues to live for the rest of their lives in creative and innovative ways as part of the tenets of their RICHE brand.
“We owe tons of gratitude to the mentor institutions of MUG who ensured that standards were adhered to throughout our studies here,” Benjamin Kwame Donkor remarked.
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