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The University of Ghana (UG) has secured approximately $23 million through 24 grant agreements signed through the University’s Research and Innovation Directorate, with an expected overhead of over $2 million, the Vice Chancellor of UG, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has stated.
She said the grants underscored the trust that global partners had in the UG, alongside the excellent efforts of the university’s academic community.
The Vice Chancellor was speaking at one of the graduation ceremonies held by the University in Accra last week.
She said the university ranked as the best in Ghana and the second-best in the West-African sub-region in the inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025, placing 187 globally.
Prof. Amfo added that the Containment Facilities at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) had been awarded a four-star rating by the Africa Centres for
Disease Control under its Biosafety and Biosecurity (BSBS) Initiative.
This continental recognition, she said, was a testament to Noguchi's commitment to international biosafety and biosecurity standards, and affirmed its role as a Regional Centre of Excellence in infectious disease research, diagnostics and surveillance.
The ceremony was for 1,948 students who graduated from undergraduate to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) study in all four sessions held by the UG for the 2024-2025 academic year.
The breakdown is 107 PhD graduates, 917 Master’s degree graduates, and 920 undergraduates.
Among the undergraduates were 319 graduates with a Bachelor of Laws, 91 with a Bachelor of Science in Administration, 202 with a Bachelor of Arts, and three with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Mrs Mary Chinery-Hesse, described the ceremony as a season of “personal triumph and institutional pride,” adding that the graduates’ achievements reflected resilience in balancing academic demands with personal and financial challenges.
She touted the global recognition of the UG, indicating that it reflected deliberate investments in research infrastructure, the promotion of cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the attraction of global partnerships.
“It is proof of what can be achieved when vision aligns with action and strategy with purpose,” she said.
Mrs Chinery-Hesse acknowledged the crucial role parents, guardians, and faculty play in the graduates’ success. She described them as “the unseen pillars whose sacrifices, encouragement, and guidance had made today’s achievements possible.”
The Chancellor urged the graduates to remain connected to their alma mater through the alumni association, emphasising that “giving back would ensure that future generations benefit even more than you did.”
She encouraged the graduates to enter the world with confidence, integrity and purpose.
“You are not just recipients of degrees but custodians of knowledge, drivers of innovation, and beacons of hope for a better tomorrow,” she said.
For his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CarePoint, Dr Sangu Delle, who was the Guest Speaker, urged the graduating class to see their degrees as tools for service rather than personal gain.
“What Africa needed is not only well-educated men and women.
It needs ethical leaders who serve others, uphold justice, and challenge corruption in all its forms,” he said.
Dr Delle stressed that corruption was a societal issue, not confined to politics, and urged the graduates to take personal responsibility for integrity and accountability.
He encouraged them to lead with courage, compassion, and a commitment to building a better nation.
The Valedictorian, Alhassan Aboagye, described the academic journey as demanding and transformative.
He said that although the early excitement of gaining admission to the university had been quickly tested by rigorous academic work, the experience strengthened their resolve and prepared them for future challenges.
He acknowledged the sacrifices of families, the guidance of faculty, and the support of sponsors, who made it possible for many students to complete their studies.
Mr Aboagye urged his colleagues to continue to grow, adapt, and apply the lessons learnt at the university to make meaningful contributions to society.
