Vice President Graces 59th Special Congregation at KNUST, Reaffirms Government’s Commitment to Inclusive Higher Education

Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang today joined the leadership and academic community of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for the university’s 59th Special Congregation, a ceremony marked by the conferment of honorary degrees and doctorates on award recipients and graduands.

The Vice President attended the event alongside Asantehene and Chancellor of KNUST, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, faculty members, staff, families, and distinguished guests.

Delivering remarks on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang expressed gratitude to KNUST for the honour of participating in the academic milestone and highlighted the role of academia in shaping national development.

She underscored that academic pursuit is not a race but a lifelong journey, stating that every graduate, researcher, and lecturer plays a crucial role in advancing human knowledge. She further urged universities to ensure that research outcomes extend beyond laboratories and lecture halls and make meaningful impact in communities and across society.

Commending KNUST for fostering an environment that supports rigorous academic research, the Vice President reiterated Government’s resolve to uplift the nation’s higher education sector and protect academic excellence through strategic policy interventions.

She spotlighted key government initiatives expanding access to tertiary education, including:

• Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
• The “No Fees Stress” initiative for Level 100 students

According to the Vice President, over 120,000 students have benefitted from the programmes, with total beneficiaries exceeding 120,000, demonstrating Government’s determination to build an inclusive and equitable education system that strengthens Ghana’s human resource capacity.

Addressing newly awarded PhD holders, she stressed that higher academic achievement demands higher responsibility, urging them to lead with clarity of thought, integrity, and courage in a world of information overload. She encouraged them to view themselves as national leaders who will drive innovation in academia, industry, governance, entrepreneurship, and public service.

Concluding her message, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang congratulated the award winners, graduands, families, and the entire KNUST fraternity for their achievements and contributions to national progress.