Amrahia (GAR), Aug. 30, GNA- Vice President John Dramani Mahama has commended private universities and colleges for the complementary role they play in supporting government's efforts in providing quality education in the country.

He said government was aware of the huge number of students from the senior secondary schools and other levels who could not be absolved by the public tertiary institutions alone.

Mr Dramani said this in a speech read for him by Mr. Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education, at the 44th graduation and 4th congregation of the Ghana Christian University College (GCUC) at Amrahia in the Greater Accra Region at the weekend, where 73 graduands were awarded Degrees and certificates.

The theme for the congregation was "The role of Transformational Leader in Nation Building".

"Transforming students into transformational leader requires that their orientation should start from the very moment they set foot on the campuses of their universities", he said.

Mr Dramani noted that graduating from an institution of higher learning was not an end in itself, saying "to whom much is given, much is expected".

He said the society had afforded them the opportunity to acquire much knowledge, and when that knowledge was misapplied or not applied to its maximum it was as dangerous as illiteracy.

He urged the graduands not to give anyone the cause to say so about them, after a long stay in school, adding that "it is my conviction that you are truly transformed to assume leadership in various positions where you will soon find yourselves".

He pledged government's support for the 'Water is Life' Project which has been initiated by the college for the Amrahia community, and expressed the hope that this would supplement government's efforts in raising the standard of life of people in the community.

Dr Manuel Budu Adjei, President of GCUC, said the college believes in both transformations of persons as well as the transformation of communities.

He announced that the college had renewed its accreditation which would expire in the next five years, adding that as part of the colleges' community service, they were able to provide a borehole, an overhead storage facility, and four stand-pipes for the chiefs and people of Amrahia.

Mr Emmanuel Bonney Acquah, Chairman of the Governing Council of GCUC, has called on the graduands to work hard on the job market to enable them to succeed, adding that "It takes hard work, determination, honesty, humility, faith and focus to succeed".

Mr. Adio Kassim Stephen, immediate past SRC President of GCUC, encouraged students not to be apathetic towards school activities, but to see such avenues as a means to develop leadership potentials.

The certificate programmes include, certificate in pastoral Ministries, certificate in advanced marketing, certificate in church administration and NGO management, certificate in systems administration, certificate in holistic child development, certificate in human resource management, certificate in music instrumentation and voice, certificate in project management and certificate in strategic planning.

The degree programmes include Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Bachelors of Arts in development management.

Special awards were presented to deserving students who excelled in various disciplines.