Mills' Speech

His Excellency, Mr. Kofi Annan, Chancellor of the University of Ghana,

Honourable Minister of Education, Mr. Alex Tettey-Enyo,

Mr. Vice-Chancellor,

Mr. Pro-Vice-Chancellor,

Members of Convocation,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Respected Traditional Leaders,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Graduands,

It is indeed a great pleasure to be here with you at this congregation ceremony.

Let me be honest and confess that I miss being a member of this academic community and it is really heartening to be back to a place that gave me so much joy and fulfillment.

This occasion certainly marks a homecoming for me. As many of you know, I was myself a student at this great University, and then went on to become a lecturer here for well over two decades. For a long portion of my life this campus was home, and the Legon spirit still lives in me. Indeed, as President of Ghana, I owe a lot to what Legon gave me and I will forever be grateful to this great university. Mr. Chancellor, we are here to share in the joy of the graduands and celebrate their achievements. Certainly, the occasion also affords us the opportunity to appreciate the hard work and sacrifices of the faculty and staff. One of the core themes of the NDC Government, is, Investing in People. Mr. Chancellor, there is no better way of investing in people than to give them quality education. And in providing quality education, the cycle will never be complete minus quality tertiary education. That is why the NDC’s social democratic agenda does not believe in full cost recovery. I particularly understand how critical tertiary education is for our nation, not only by developing our skilled human resource, but also, building our research centers which are very critical to our forward march in all spheres. Indeed, the training, research, extension, and service functions of the university are intertwined and collectively significant for our national development, and my administration will ensure that, to the extent possible, adequate financial and material resources are provided to optimally support tertiary education and research. As I recently indicated in my State of the Nation Address to Parliament, we will address the management inefficiencies and bottlenecks that affect equity and quality in the educational system. We will also critically examine the utilization practices and processes of the GETFUND, to improve efficiency and ensure that the fund is used for its stipulated objectives. Mr. Chancellor, I must state that I am very impressed with the vast infrastructural developments on the Legon campus. We will work to ensure that these projects are completed within the shortest-possible time and new ones started. Mr. Chancellor, the last couple of years have been noteworthy for this esteemed institution. I closely followed the programme of activities for the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of this great institution of ours, and I was also privileged to attend your investiture at the Great Hall. I would like to publicly congratulate the University of Ghana for the leadership role it has played and continues to play in the provision of tertiary education in Ghana, the sub-region, the Continent and beyond. We will do all within our means to continue to support Legon’s mission and vision. Mr. Chancellor, I also note that my own Faculty, the Faculty of Law, is celebrating its golden anniversary this year. I know very well the contributions that Faculty has made in training lawyers for this country. I congratulate the Faculty on this achievement and wish them many more successes in the years to come. To the academic and non-academic staff I would especially like you to know how much we appreciate your hard work and sacrifice. I was once one of you; I know what it is you go through, and my government will strive to better the working conditions and emolument packages. Please trust that Government believes teachers deserve better than we have given them as a nation, and that my administration is working hard to ensure that educators from Primary School to University are given their due. In short, Mr. Chancellor, education is atop the government’s priority list as we forge ahead in building a Better Ghana. To the graduands, I congratulate you for developing your intellect in this great institution of learning. I share in your joy knowing that you have worked very hard to earn your degrees. All things being equal, the degrees you have worked for should provide you with lots of opportunities.

Your desire to achieve a lot should be limitless. The future belongs to you and the positive mental attitudes you will develop this day onwards will go a long way to determine the kind of future you will build for yourselves.

As a Leader, I will do all my best to give opportunities to the youth. Some of the nominees for Ministerial appointments should tell you that the youth are critical stakeholders in shaping the destiny of Ghana. It is up to you to position yourselves properly and positively so that your full potentials can be tapped. By all means enjoy your graduation for you have worked hard for it and then move on to think about today as the beginning of that next phase of your personal and national lives. We need you to put the knowledge and skills you have acquired to good use; to develop yourselves professionally, be it on the job or through further schooling; and to pursue excellence in all you do, so that, you contribute your quota to building a Better Ghana. To those of you envisaging self-employment, Ghana needs you to help us create jobs. Our government is working to provide an enabling environment for business development and to build support mechanisms that will facilitate growth of businesses. To all of you graduands, I pray that you will let the principles of honesty, integrity, humility, truth, modesty and love for God and country be your guiding principles. Ghana is the only home we have and so in all our dealings, let us make the things that unite and develop the nation fly above the things that divide and thwart our forward march.

Mr. Chancellor, I thank you for the opportunity to once again spend quality time on Legon campus where it all began for me decades ago and it is my hope and prayer that this great institution will grow from strength to strength and produce even greater leaders.

May God bless us all and make Ghana greater and stronger.

Thank you for your attention.