The Presbyterian University College, Ghana (PUCG) held its maiden Roll Call to matriculate freshmen and women of the Faculty of Law who enrolled for the 2018/2019 Academic Year at a ceremony. The ceremony took place at the Kumasi Campus of PUCG on 26th January, 2019.
The Faculty of Law registered 66 students comprising 56 males and 10 females for the 2018/2019 Academic Year.
Addressing the matriculating students of the Faculty of Law, the President of PUCG, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng said the swearing of the Matriculation Oath is an important aspect of the ceremony.
“The oath binds the students to observe the rules and regulations of the University, to obey the President and other Officials of the University, and to apply themselves diligently to their studies, to seek knowledge and truth, and to promote the general good of the University.The President also disclosed by adding that the “oath also binds the University and its Management to seek the welfare of these students during the duration of their studies.”
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng asked the students to focus on their studies. “Your primary objective of coming to PUCG Faculty of Law should include studying for your LLB certificate with the aim of being admitted to the Ghana School of Law and eventually be called to the Ghana Bar.”
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng, President of PUC
PUCG’s Vision for products from the Law Faculty
Contributing to building a robust legal system in the country to strengthen the Ghanaian society and secure its future, the President said the products from PUCG Law Programme will not only know the law, and apply it appropriately, but would be imbued with Christian values to make them responsible lawyers and not become conduits of corruption in our judicial system.
“Understanding and appreciating the Law will help you to be good lawyers. Appreciation of the Law leads to a better application of the Law in a given situation. Regurgitation of facts known as ‘chew and pour’ is not the best approach to your studies. Passing your end of semester exams is just not enough. You are here to appreciate the substantive law,” he reiterated.
The President assured the students that the lecturers have been carefully selected and they are the best they can have teaching law in any University. He said the Law library is well resourced, but will be constantly updated from time to time. “The Moot Court is one of the nicest you can get in this area,” he noted.
Build a brand
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng implored the students that their body is an environment for your mind. “Keeping yourselves tidy and dressing appropriately is a factor for good academic life. The University is concerned about your academic performances. However, it will not overlook the way you dress to lectures.”
“As potential lawyers, you need to have a brand. A well-dressed lawyer commands respect. To those aspiring to be judges in the near future, being morally upright and with a proven integrity is a condition for your appointment as a judge. You need not engage in shameful activities that will bring your name into disrepute,” he advised.
A group photograph of the Law Students with Management of PUCG and Guests at the ceremony
Poorly trained lawyer is a danger to society
The Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Minister of Justice, Hon. Godfred Yeboah Dame who was the guest speaker of the ceremony said mediocrity, misguided crave for cheap wealth, substandard delivery of legal services and dishonesty have hardly been the hallmark of legal training and the legal profession.
He noted that dedication to excellence in the law, careful and serious training, industry and meticulousness surely, are ultimately rewarding for the lawyer.
“A poorly trained lawyer is a danger to society and a threat to the sustenance of our democracy as a nation. Ultimately, a dishonest bar, needless to say, breeds a corrupt bench and affects the core of the society we seek to build. Ghana cannot afford to gamble with its future by sacrificing these noble attributes of the legal profession in the training of law students” the astute lawyer cautioned.
Imbibe the values of Presbyterian Training
His Lordship Justice Kossi-Efo Kaglo, the Supervising High Court Judge, Ashanti Region, who was the Chairperson for the ceremony admonished the law students to heed to the dictates of the matriculation oath sworn and imbibe the values of the Presbyterian training.
His Lordship Justice Kossi-Efo Kaglo, Supervising High Court Judge of Ashanti Region
The Supervising High Court Judge was full of praise for Presbyterian Educational Philosophy which instills discipline, honesty, commitment, hard-work, integrity, humility, Godly leadership and skills development, and sound moral principles in its trainees.
His Lordship Justice Kossi-Efo Kaglo noted that being a lawyer does not evict you from your social environment and admonished the students to impart positively on their societies stating “Let your law reflect your daily lives with people.”
The Roll Call for the freshmen and women of the Faculty of Law was conducted by the Registrar of PUCG, Mrs. Mary Abena Agyepong and the Dean for the Faculty of Law, Mr. Kwame Agyemang. The ceremony was attended by the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr. Ernest Owusu-Dapaah.