Elizabeth Naa Abiana Morton swept a record 8 academic prizes out of 13 categories from the School of Medicine, in addition to her award as Valedictorian, at the University’s 6th Congregation, held November 12th in Sokode-Lokoe.
The winning streak included the “Best Graduating Female Student” award in Community Medicine; she then cleared “Best Graduating Student” awards in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medicine & Therapeutics, Community Medicine, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology; as well as three “Overall Outstanding Graduating MB,ChB Student” awards. Her crown jewel and highlight of the ceremony, which brought the house to its feet, was the Vice Chancellor’s Prize for “Overall Outstanding Graduating UHAS Student.”
In her valedictory speech, Miss Morton expressed, on behalf of her graduating class, their profound appreciation to the UHAS Management, Faculty and Staff “for creating an enabling environment and nurturing us to be the professionals we are today.” She admonished her colleagues to “go out into the world, bringing a positive change by effectively applying our skill sets, making our university and our nation proud.” Ms. Morton also encouraged them to execute their duties well with knowledge and excellence to show “we are graduates of the University of Health and Allied Sciences.”
In his address, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of Ghana Health Service, who was Guest Speaker for the occasion, encouraged the 686 graduands from the School of Allied Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Medicine, and School of Public Health to accept postings outside the major cities, no matter where they are sent. He promised them that the Ghana Health Service would not abandon health workers who accept to serve in less endowed areas of the country.
The Director-General hinted that the Ghana Health Service, working with the Ministry of Health, along with other implementation agencies, “have put our shoulders to the wheel to try to change the health fortunes of the citizenry.”
The Chairman of the University Council, Mr. Justice Victor Jones Mawulom Dotse, in his address, stated that it was gratifying to note that through hard work, the University has been progressing steadily per its stated mission and vision. He said UHAS is has been making tremendous efforts in the areas of research and appealed to Government to actively support those efforts by making necessary financial provisions to UHAS and other public universities: “UHAS must be supported timely with adequate research funds through national budgetary allocation,” adding that, “most great nations develop through scientific research.”
Professor John Gyapong, in the Vice Chancellor’s Report, highlighted the University’s progress in the areas of Teaching and Learning, Research, and Governance and Management over the past academic year. The Vice Chancellor also acknowledged global awards and recognitions that members of the University had attained, highlighting in particular, the high ranking attained by UHAS on the Alper-Doger (AD) Scientific Index in the World Scientist and University Rankings 2021.
He recognized that despite COVID-19 challenges, the academic year had been generally successful, saying, “our successes far outweigh our challenges and it's obvious that, with the relevant infrastructural expansion, UHAS will continue to transform the landscape for training health professionals in Ghana.”
