Become change Ghana desperately needs - Ace Ankomah charges graduates

Alegal practitioner and the senior partner of Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah, Ace Anan Ankomah, has called on graduates to be the change that Ghana desperately needs. 

He emphasised that true empowerment lay not in personal advancement, but in giving back and contributing meaningfully to the nation's progress.

Mr Ankomah made the call at the 22nd graduation ceremony of the Methodist University Ghana (MUG) in Accra.

Graduating students

A total of 809 students made up of 265 postgraduates, 480 undergraduates, 23 diplomas and 41 certificate students graduated.

Out of the numbers for Bachelor’s graduates, 29 earned First Class Honours, 178 earned Second Class Upper Honours, 220 earned Second Class Lower Honours, 43 earned Third Class Honours and 10 earned pass degrees.

There was also a presentation of seven special awards to some of the graduating students, three of whom were females, for their outstanding performances during their academic journey.

Taking responsibility

Mr Ankomah, who was the special guest at the graduation ceremony, emphasised the need for graduates to take responsibility for driving change in their communities and beyond.

He encouraged them to view their degrees not as mere badges of accomplishment, but as tools to be used to create meaningful impact in the world.

“The measure of your success will be in how you use this knowledge to influence and improve the world,” he said, adding: “Your real education begins when you leave here and start applying what you have learnt”.

He challenged the graduates to be agents of change in the Ghanaian society, which was plagued by corruption, inequality and lack of accountability.

“Don’t simply fit into the system—improve it. Challenge the status quo,” he charged the graduating students, urging them to find what needed to be changed and be the ones to step up to lead that change.

Mr Ankomah further called for a new generation of leaders who would uphold values of honesty, resilience and humility, stressing that true leadership lay in taking a stand for what was right, even when it was difficult. 

"Our country and continent need leaders who refuse shortcuts and bribes and who choose the difficult path of integrity over ease," he said.

Current activities

The Acting Vice-Chancellor of Methodist University Ghana, Reverend Professor Daniel Yao Bruce, announced that MUG had received accreditation to commence new postgraduate programmes, including a Master’s in Procurement and Supply Chain Management and a one-year top-up from MA Guidance and Counselling to MPhil Guidance and Counselling.  

Professor Bruce further indicated that the university was also awaiting approval from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for additional programmes, such as Doctor of Counselling Psychology, BSc in Midwifery and Law, explaining that “these programmes are designed to meet contemporary academic and professional needs,” he said.  

Challenges

Professor Bruce said enrolment at the institution is a pressing concern for the university, which has significantly affected the institution’s operations.

In response, we are introducing innovative and modern programmes to attract more students and ensure the sustainability of our University.

There is also a Students Recruitment Team that is working to attract not less than 2,000 new students this academic year. A recruitment officer has been appointed in this direction,” he said.

Reverend Professor Bruce, therefore, encouraged graduands to embrace lifelong learning, uphold integrity and work towards making a difference in society.

“The challenges of today’s world require collaboration and innovation. Use your education as a tool for personal and societal advancement,” he said.