The Presbyterian University College, Ghana (PUCG) held its 2nd Congregation Ceremony for the School of Graduate Studies on the 14th of March, 2020 at the Okwahu Campus Abetifi.
PUCG graduated 315 students comprising 206 males, and 109 females who had successfully completed their programmes of study in Master of Education in Educational Studies, Master of Arts in International Development Studies, Master of Science in Environmental Health and Sanitation, and Master of Science in Natural Resources Management.
Addressing the Congregation on the theme “Ghana Beyond Aid: The Role of Graduate Studies,” the President of PUCG, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng said Ghana is blessed with a lot of natural resources which if effectively and efficiently exploited and utilized, will transform Ghana into the status of a developed country in no time.
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng noted that since independence, Ghana has faced many challenges such as infrastructural deficit, lack of skilled labour, budget deficit, and ill-equipped health and educational facilities, among others.
However, the President of PUCG believes that the utilization of Ghana’s internally generated funds and aids received from Ghana’s development partners have succeeded in moving the development of Ghana higher than how it was at the time of independence.
This notwithstanding, Rev. Prof. Adow Obeng said this has not taken Ghana which is now in the community of middle-income countries, out of the woods.
In line with the economic situation of the country, Rev. Prof. Adow Obeng believes that the developmental agenda of the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo since he resumed office on 7th January, 2017 to move Ghana to a state of Beyond Aid is critical for the economic emancipation that every Ghanaian so desires.
“The vision of Ghana Beyond Aid is for the Government of Ghana and her people to builda prosperous and self-confident Ghana that is in charge of her economic destiny; a transformed Ghana that is prosperous enough to be beyond needing aid, and that engages competitively with the rest of the world through trade and investment,” the President said.
He acknowledged the measures the government is putting in place to improve upon the growth and development in industry, commerce, agriculture, education and the other sectors noting that “Undoubtedly, government is creating the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.”
“As a country, we have to make high and efficient investments in infrastructure, education and skills, science and technology. This among other things, will require massive utilization and deployment of indigenous resources, including human resources, in the most creative and efficient manner for rapid socio-economic transformation, and this is where graduate studies come in.” Rev. Prof. Adow Obeng said.
But the President of PUCG believes the goals of Ghana Beyond Aid agenda cannot be achieved without the active participation of the Ghanaian Universities, research institutions and their graduate studies which are at the fore front of research, knowledge creation and dissemination.
Role of Graduate Studies in Achieving the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda
Rev. Prof. Adow Obeng said it is important to note that all over the world, universities and research institutions have helped world economies to make strategic breakthroughs through the process of research and most especially postgraduate studies.
“It therefore goes without saying that the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda cannot be achieved without the active role of Postgraduate studies,” he reiterated.
Solutions to Developmental Problems
Rev. Prof. Adow Obeng said Postgraduate studies is an investment in personal and national human capital which seeks to train a highly skilled individuals and professionals who are capable of addressing specific issues of national and global concerns. He noted that such individuals through their research activities, attempt to address specific issues in their national context as part of the wider globalised society.
Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Academia
The President of PUCG said the academia through postgraduate studies and research have also specialised in knowledge creation and dissemination, development of creativity and innovative individuals.
He therefore called for closer collaboration between industry and academia so that these specialities can be utilized and make the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda a reality.
How Postgraduate Studies can play these roles effectively
Rev. Prof. Adow Obeng said that postgraduate studies or research plays critical role in the life of an individual and a nation.
He said these roles help to build teamwork that helps to nurture specific cognitive and inter-personal skills, the creation of strong scholarly communities and entrepreneurial workforce; improvement in individual’s commitment and patriotism.
“It is imperative for the government, the private sector, the universities, research institutions and civil society organizations including postgraduate studies beneficiaries to cooperate to ensure that postgraduate studies and its attendant research activities contribute effectively towards the attainment of Ghana Beyond Aid,” the President of PUCG noted.
To the Graduates
“With the empowerment you have received through these programmes, I charge you to go out and become change agents and managers of change to help develop a new paradigm, which will strategically position our educational system and the other sectors of our economy to meet our national needs and also to support the achievement of the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda,” Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng implored the graduates.