By Philip Tengzu
Wa, (UW/R), July 15, GNA – The SDD University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) has held its maiden graduation for the first cohort of the School of Law and a special graduation for the School of Graduate Studies and Research.
A total of 61 students, comprising 55 males and six females graduated from the School of Law while 74 postgraduate students (PhD, MPhil and MSc) comprising 63 males and eleven females graduated from the School of Graduate Studies.
Meanwhile, the School of Law currently had a total of 464 students, comprising 317 males and 147 females at various levels of studies.
Speaking at the congregation, Professor Emmanuel K. Derbile, the Vice Chancellor of the SDD-UBIDS, described it as a breakthrough for the students, the university, northern Ghana and Ghana as a whole.
He said that was because it was the first time in the academic history of northern Ghana that a university in the area was graduating students with Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degrees.
“As we move forward as a university, we remain committed to deepening academic excellence promoting innovative research and aligning our vision with national development goals and global trends”, he explained.
He commended some individuals including Prof. John Baloro, the current Consultant Dean of the School of Law and Prof. Atua Appiah-Agyei, the former Consultant Dean, for their roles in ensuring the School thrived.
Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor, the Chairman of the SDD-UBIDS Governing Council, observed that the graduating law students would contribute significantly to strengthening governance, ensuring justice and shaping public policy.
“The justice and legal sectors play pivotal roles in ensuring accountability and fostering the fair and equitable treatment of our citizens by the state and its agencies”, he stated.
Dr. Kunbuor, however, indicated that justice delivery in Ghana had been plagued by delays and uncertainties, leading many Ghanaians to perceive a politicisation of the judicial process, stressing the need to restore confidence in the judiciary.
Prof. Augustine Ocloo, Deputy Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), who represented the Minister for Education, commended the SDD-UBIDS for navigating the challenges to maintain academic excellence and graduating law students, the first of its kind in northern Ghana.
“This is a very young university, they have also been able to train postgraduate students…so we want to commend the university that against all odds they are doing their best”, he said.
His Lordship Barima Yaw Kodie, Director of Legal Education and Director of School of Law, encouraged the law graduates to strive to join the Bar to augment the legal force of the country.
He also assured them of brighter prospects at the Bar in transforming their lives and families while giving them the opportunity to contribute to the development of Ghana.
In a speech read on his behalf, Charles Lwanga Puozuing (Esq), the Upper West Regional Minister, said the establishment of the SDD-UBIDS Law School was a significant step in decentarlising legal education in Ghana.
Ms. Sherita Agnes Asaa Kwakye, the only graduating student with First Class Honours from the School of Law, presented the valedictory speech.
Other guests at the graduation included executives of the GBA, led by its National President, Mrs. Effuah Ghartey (Esq); Justice Yonny Kulendi, Justice of the Supreme Court; and Prof. Raymond Atuguba, a former Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Christian AkorlieÂ