A total of 1,271 student who completed programmes at UPSA Law School and Faculty of Information Technology (IT) and Communication Studies were on Tuesday awarded degrees and diplomas at the 15th congregation of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
Out of the number, the UPSA Law School presented 134 students, eight of whom obtained Second Class Upper, 53 Second Class Lower, 56 Third Class and 17 Pass.
The Faculty of IT and Communication Studies, on their part, graduated a total of 1,137, out of which 728 were undergraduates and 409 were diploma students.
For the undergraduate level, only one student obtained First Class, 136 Second Class Upper, 302 Second Class Lower, 259 Third Class and 30 Pass.
Ten of the diploma students attained Distinction, while 229 obtained Credit and 170 Pass.
The President, Ghana Bar Association, Mr Yaw Acheampong Boafo, urged the graduands to be professional and find solutions to societal challenges and also contribute to the progress and development of Ghana and the world at large.
“It does not matter whether you have obtained a first class or a pass. It really does not matter whether you are graduating with a law, information technology, public relations, or communications management degree. What is important and will matter is what you do with your qualifications,” he said.
Mr Boafo advised them to connect with one another and build network, saying, “Your network determines your net worth. If you have the opportunity, get close to the powerful in society who control power and opportunity, do not believe stories that all rich and powerful people are cultists.”
With regards to corruption and integrity, he urged the graduands to live a life of integrity, adding that integrity may be described as being honest, having strong moral principles, and an unwavering commitment to abide by them.
“Integrity goes with trust. As you move through life and navigate through your different professional environments, whether as an employee or as self-employed, running your own businesses, integrity and trust are non-negotiable if you want to succeed, as a steady flow of questionable wealth for some, while the average Ghanaian is impoverished and grows disillusioned,” he said.
Mr Boafo said Ghana deserved not only men and women with real competencies and skills, but men and women of real integrity who would manage the resources of the state to the benefit of the masses.
“We cannot continue like this. Things must change, I believe that young men and women like you can be a turning point. I look into your faces and feel hopeful. I believe that it is possible that some of you will later find yourselves in public and political offices,” he said.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
