UG Graduates Over 1,900 Students; Vice-Chancellor Highlights Major Gains in Rankings, Infrastructure and Research
The University of Ghana has graduated a total of 1,944 students at its July 2025 Congregation Ceremonies held at the Great Hall and the Cedi Conference Centre.
The ceremonies, organised in four sessions over two days, were held to confer degrees and formally recognise students who have completed their programmes during the academic year. They also reflect the University’s commitment to celebrating academic achievement and supporting graduates as they transition into professional and scholarly careers.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, delivering a report on the state of the University at the opening session dedicated to PhD graduates, announced that this year’s graduating class includes 107 PhD candidates, 917 Master’s students and 920 undergraduate students.
“This day marks not just the completion of your academic journey, but the beginning of new possibilities, responsibilities and opportunities,” Prof. Amfo told the graduates.
Prof. Amfo used the occasion to highlight major developments and achievements that have taken place over the past year, citing them as clear indicators of the University’s continuing transformation and leadership in higher education across the continent.
The Vice-Chancellor reported that the University has made a significant leap in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sub-Saharan Africa rankings, moving from 17th to fifth place. She said the institution is now ranked first in Ghana and West Africa.
“This ranking highlights our unwavering commitment to educational excellence, student engagement and ethical leadership,” Prof. Amfo stated.
She indicated that UG also placed first in Ghana and second in West Africa in the inaugural THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings for 2025, positioning the University among the top 200 institutions globally for interdisciplinary research excellence.
Prof. Amfo explained that the University’s progress is anchored on its five-year Strategic Plan (2024–2029), which focuses on five strategic priorities: Transformative Student Experience, Impactful Research, Commitment to Faculty and Staff, Engagement and Partnerships, and Sustainable Resource Mobilisation and Stewardship.
“These priorities, our Five for Five, are designed to steer the University towards achieving its aspirations, mission and vision,” she said.
On research and innovation, the Vice-Chancellor revealed that UG has signed 24 grant agreements so far this year, with a total value of approximately $23 million and expected overheads of more than $2 million.
“This demonstrates not only the excellent work being done by our academic community, but also the trust that global partners have in our work,” she said.
She noted that the University had operationalised the University of Ghana Graduate Research Fund (UGGRF). She announced that awardees from the maiden call, advertised in April 2025, will be announced later this month.
Prof. Amfo also highlighted the contributions of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), which recently organised a hands-on workshop on antimicrobial resistance, bacterial genomics and bioinformatics. The event brought together 20 participants from across Africa.
The Vice-Chancellor indicated that substantial investments have been made in improving UG’s digital infrastructure to enhance teaching, learning and access to information.
She said the Information Technology Directorate had expanded Wi-Fi coverage to halls of residence and improved bandwidth, while the Sakai Learning Management System had been upgraded with new features to enhance teaching and learning.
Prof Amfo disclosed that work is also ongoing on the Digital Youth Village, which will serve as a national hub for digital skills training. “This initiative is being driven by the School of Continuing and Distance Education and will use UG faculty and experts to deliver world-class instruction,” she stated.
An important feature of the Vice-Chancellor's report was the University’s support for students and academic environment. Commenting on this, Prof. Amfo lauded efforts to enhance student welfare and inclusion. She announced that UG had commissioned its first Hotspot Comfort Zone on the Legon campus, a student-centred facility offering a place to study, relax and access internet services. “Five more zones are nearing completion and we look forward to expanding this initiative across all our campuses,” she said.
She mentioned that for the 2024/2025 academic year, a total of 1,644 students had received scholarships through the Students’ Financial Aid Office (SFAO), which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
“Thousands of students have received support through SFAO over the years and in many cases, that support has changed the trajectory of their lives,” she said.
The Vice-Chancellor also commended the work of the Centre for Disability Studies and Advocacy (CEDSA), which continues to support students and staff with various forms of disability, enabling them to function fully within the University community.
Prof. Amfo also pointed out that UG had partnered with the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) to establish the UG–GNCCI Junior Chamber, an initiative to tackle graduate unemployment through mentorship and entrepreneurial training.
She also disclosed that the University had collaborated with Johnson and Johnson Africa to train students and staff on mental health care and raise awareness on mental wellness.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) is expected to revert to UG management following the swearing-in of a transition team by the President. “We anticipate that the transition will realign UGMC’s governance and operations with the University’s academic mission and core values,” she stated.
Prof. Amfo reported that the University and its members continue to receive national and international accolades. She announced that the School of Pharmacy had received the Award for Excellence in Pharmacy Education from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and Maame Adjoa Gyasiwaa Aidoo, one of UG’s first PharmD graduates, was named best Pharmacy student nationwide.
She also revealed that UG’s School of Law won the 2025 Jessup Ghana Moot Court Competition, while the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research earned a four-star rating under the Africa CDC Biosafety and Biosecurity Initiative.
Prof. Amfo, who was recently named Ambassador for Gender Equity and Social Inclusion by the Association of African Universities, said she remains committed to advancing inclusive education and institutional reform. “I am humbled by this recognition and pledge to continue working hard in the mentioned areas,” she said.
In closing, the Vice-Chancellor congratulated the graduating class and charged them to use the knowledge, skills and values acquired at UG to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
“You are not only representatives of the University of Ghana, but also of the values we hold dear, excellence, integrity and service to society,” she said. “The University of Ghana will always be here to support you as you embark on your next chapter.”
Prior to the Vice-Chancellor’s address, Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, underscored the significance of the ceremonies, describing them as moments to “celebrate academic achievements, honour resilience and spotlight the University’s mission to nurture responsible and capable leaders for society.”
Present were the Chancellor, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, Chair of Council, Madam Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, members of convocation, partners, family and friends of the graduating class and staff of the University.
