President John Mahama has subtly rated the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) as Ghana’s leading public university, saying UPSA is the “greatest university in the world.”
The President made this remark while delivering the keynote address at UPSA’s 8th Congregation held at the forecourt of the university on Saturday in Accra.
He apparently ranked UPSA ahead of University of Ghana (UG), Legon, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast (UCC), among others, in terms of infrastructural development and visionary leadership.
USPA, President said, “has time and time again proven that with an inquiring vision, an unwavering commitment, teamwork and support, one can achieve unimagined height of greatness.”
He indicated that “I have always been impressed anytime I visit this campus at the range of growth of significant infrastructure that this university continues to put up.”
According to him, “A significant proportion of the infrastructure on this campus has been constructed using internally generated funds.”
President Mahama noted that “the completion of your (UPSA) auditorium complex, which can accommodate 3,000 persons at a time, will make it the biggest auditorium in the country – bigger than the National Theatre and bigger than Accra International Conference Centre.”
Before the 8th congregation, President Mahama commissioned a library facility at UPSA, adding that it can accommodate up to 1,600 students at a time.
“I have always felt that UPSA is an example of how internally generated funds should be used, the President asserted.
He credited Prof. Joshua Alabi, Vice Chancellor of UPSA for all the achievements the school had chalked in recent years, describing him as a trailblazer in the nation’s education sector.
According to him, Prof. Alabi has led the university over the last seven years with distinction and deserves commendation from the entire UPSA family.
UPSA, he said, from its very humble beginnings has really developed into a world renowned university.
The President also seized the opportunity to pay homage to Chief Dele Momodu of the Ovation Magazine fame, who received the fourth Honorary Doctorate Degree of the UPSA on the occasion in recognition of his outstanding contributions.
Academic Report
Prof. Alabi, whose second tenure began on January 1, 2013 and will come to an end by December 31, this year, said in his address that “a total of 2,575 students have fulfilled the eligibility requirements for graduation today.”
Of this number, there are 318 diplomats, 1,836 undergraduate and 421 postgraduate students, explained Prof. Alabi, who has been hailed by many for his excellent leadership in transforming UPSA from a mere professional tutorial institution into a leading university.
“At the undergraduate level, a total of 13, representing 0.71 percent of the graduating class obtained First Class degrees, 24.24 percent had Second Class Upper degrees, 38.07 percent with Second Class Lower degrees, 28.38 percent with Third Class degrees and the remaining 8.61 percent are going home with pass degrees,” he said.
Chancellor of UPSA, Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, in a statement, disclosed that “we project that by the year 2017, the total student population will grow from the current 12,000 to 15,000,” adding that “the strategic initiatives being implemented for the next five years are on course.”
He said the 3,000 capacity UPSA auditorium was being constructed at the cost of GH¢77 million, noting that the project is due for completion in 30 months.”
By Melvin Tarlue