Correspondence from Eastern Region

The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA), UESD Chapter, held its maiden week celebrations from Wednesday, 8th to Friday, 10th September 2025, at the Auditorium of the Multi-purpose Building.

The three-day event marked significant milestones of the association over the past five years and brought together members of management, staff, local and some national executives of the Association.

In her welcome address on day one of the celebration, Cynthia Ameyaa Oduro, President of GAUA-UESD, described the celebration as “history in the making.”

She explained that the programme was designed to honour the invaluable role of administrators and professionals in advancing the university's growth.

She expressed deep appreciation to the University’s management, particularly the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eric Nyarko Sampson, and the Registrar, Mary Abena Agyepong, for their support and solidarity.

She also acknowledged the contribution of past Executives, especially Dr Hammond Oppong Kwarteng, for laying a solid foundation for the Association.

The Chairperson of the event, Registrar Mary Abena Agyepong, noted in her address that she was delighted to celebrate administrators who have remained committed to the vision of UESD.

She stressed the important role GAUA members play in advancing the University’s mandate and wished participants a successful celebration.

As Guest of Honour, Vice-Chancellor Prof Eric Nyarko Sampson highlighted the essential role administrators have played in the University’s development.

He recalled how UESD began with only three staff members and how the university’s growth could not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of administrators. He encouraged members to remain committed and extended his best wishes for the celebration.

The National President of GAUA also delivered an address, extending fraternal greetings from the national leadership and sister branches across Ghana. He emphasised that the celebration was aimed at building capacity, fostering professional networking, and appreciating the contribution of administrators to the growth of UESD and higher education more broadly.

He commended the leadership of GAUA-UESD for organising the historic event and urged members to actively participate and uphold unity in solidarity.

A major highlight of the event was a professional development training for members, delivered by Guest Speaker Dr Peter Kwesi Terkper, Treasury Manager for West and North Africa at Wilmar Africa Ltd. Speaking on the theme “Excelling as a University Administrator/Professional through Innovation,”.

Dr Terkper emphasised that administrators must embrace innovation to enhance their effectiveness and professional excellence.

He noted that administrators serve not only as professionals but also as ambassadors of the University.

He encouraged participants to identify key areas of their work and master them to build stronger professional capacities.

The celebration also featured solidarity messages from representatives of sister unions within the University, including the Senior Staff Association (SSA) and the Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU).

These messages underscored the importance of collaboration and unity among the various staff groups in promoting the growth of UESD.

In her concluding remarks, the Chairperson, Mary Abena Agyepong, called on members to cultivate trust among themselves, emphasising that trust fosters teamwork and brings the Association closer to the University’s vision.

She expressed gratitude to all participants for their presence and support, noting that their contributions made the maiden celebration a resounding success.

Day Two of the GAUA-Week celebrations was packed with excitement, blending health and fun-filled activities.

Members enjoyed a variety of events, including health screenings, “flip the bottle,” karaoke, sip-and-paint sessions, and the highly anticipated all-male cooking competition.

The contest provided a lively platform for men to showcase their culinary talents as four groups went head-to-head, each preparing beloved local dishes such as angwamo (braised rice), ampesi (boiled yams), fried yams, and fante fante (fresh fish source).

After a spirited display of creativity, determination, and skill, Group Three, led by Daniel Ofori-Mintah, claimed the ultimate victory with their exceptional preparation of fante fante (fresh fish source), which was served with banku.

Day Three was all about adventure, as members embarked on an exciting trip to the Shai Hills Resource Reserve, where they immersed themselves in the beauty of nature and soaked in the wild experience.

The maiden GAUA-UESD Week was therefore not only a celebration of past achievements but also a platform for charting new pathways for professional excellence, solidarity, and the continuous growth of the University.

Watch the latest edition of BizTech below: