Address by the Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, Legon at the Fifteenth
Congregation at the Dansoman Campus on Saturday, 24th March, 2018
This was read on behalf of the Vice Chancellor UG by Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Dean, School of Languages
Chairman of the Methodist University College Ghana Council
Bishops and other Members of the Clergy
Members of the MUCG Council
Principal
Vice Principal
Registrar
Special Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
I deem it a great pleasure to be among you once again and deliver a short speech at the Fifteenth Congregation of the Methodist University College Ghana. As the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, which is the main and first ever mentor institution of MUCG, I would have a few thoughts to share with you as far as the development and growth of this University College is concerned.
Monitoring MUCG since its inception, the University of Ghana, Legon can confidently put on record that MUCG over the period of existence has done so well in all facets of University life, and it is worth noting that the University College without any break is having its 15th Congregation today. What we have not seen so far is the adoption of the Distance Education strategies. I am calling for diversification in admission procedures and programme design. Any University which wants to survive competition from its peers must adapt to new ways of administration.
On this note, I will like to suggest to MUCG to begin to consider introducing distance and e-learning programmes and also establishing learning centres in the regions to facilitate the smooth running of these programmes. If this is done, it will boost admission figures, improve upon the finances of the University College and bring MUCG closer to aspiring applicants for admission who are limited by distance and schedule of work. It will also make MUCG more visible along the length and breadth of the country. This will entail some initial cost in investment but it surely will be worth it.
As a good mentor, it is the wish of University of Ghana, Legon to see MUCG grow in leaps and bound so we will continue to give our moral and all other necessary support to you to surmount challenges of numbers and expansion, in order to be able to continue to serve our dear nation better. We will continue to closely monitor, with keen interest, developments in MUCG and I encourage you to not hesitate to call on your mentor organization, University of Ghana at any time that you need our support.
May I at this juncture seize this opportunity to appeal to all stakeholders to rededicate their efforts at assisting MUCG to rise above whatever challenges there may be now, to the pedestal of academic glory we all desire it to be. If this happens, Ghana will be the immediate beneficiary; with a rollover effect on the West African sub-region and other countries in the world. The future is bright, so I enjoin all of us to put our hands to the wheel and make it happen.
Presiding Bishop, Ladies and Gentlemen, the issue of MUCG’s autonomy is something that still boggles the minds of all of us. Most of us think it is long over-due but all I can say is that, we must continue to exercise patience as due process is being followed to secure it. I personally trust that, at the end of it all, the very best is what is in stock for us. On our part, we will do everything in our power not to delay the process unnecessarily. We hope other stakeholders will do the same so that we will soon see a fully fledged Methodist University Ghana.
To the graduands, I will like to motivate you to aspire high, possibly at attaining higher academic laurels or making it big in industry. The world of possibilities is open before you today and you must accept the challenge to be outstanding in whichever sphere of life you find yourself from today. Add value to yourselves and impact your generation in a very positive way. The whole world is looking up to you and you cannot afford to fail yourself and your generation.
Thank you and
God bless you all.