The Reverend Professor Emmanuel Adow Obeng has been inducted into office as the second President of the Presbyterian University College, Ghana (PUCG) at a colourful ceremony at the Ramseyer Presbyterian Church, Abetifi.
Rev Prof. Adow Obeng, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and an Ordained Minister of the Presbyterian Church, takes over from Prof. K. Sraku-Lartey after 10 years of meritorious service to the growth of the University College.
The Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana who performed the induction service, urged the incoming President to work assiduously to take the PUCG to the level envisaged at its establishment.
He reiterated the PCG’s commitment to holistic education that trains people in discipline and hard work to advance the cause of national development. For that reason, the leadership of the Church cannot keep quiet when it comes to national matters, and asked the leadership of the country to listen to the Church.
The Moderator noted that the PUCG has five campuses; Abetifi, Akropong, Asante-Akyem, Tema and the newly opened Kumasi Campus, to provide access to higher education for people in the catchment areas and hoped that the President would draw deep into his rich store of experience to deliver to further realize the church’s dream.
The newly inducted President, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Obeng in a short speech said his vision is to make the ‘The PUCG a University that has worldwide acclaim for holistic quality education’ through six key strategic thrust identified to drive the vision. These are:
- Enhancing visibility of PUCG,
- Growth and expansion of academic programmes, especially the sciences,
- Strengthening research and graduate studies programmes,
- Expanding the Funding base of the University,
- Developing Distance Education and
- Lifelong learning and deepening the Spiritual Heritage of the University.
He emphasised that since discipline is the hallmark of Presbyterianism, deepening the spiritual heritage of the university will be a primary goal. Despite the keen competition on the private tertiary education landscape, Presbyterian University College, Ghana seeks to become the Preferred Choice of parents and students through its discipline agenda, qualitative and demand-driven programmes.
- Do you want to be a disciplined leader?
- Do you want your ward or child to become a disciplined professional?
Then your Institution of Choice is the Presbyterian University College, Ghana. This is what PUCG is striving for because it is only highly disciplined leaders who can save this nation. No matter how innovative, creative or charismatic you are, if you not disciplined, you are bound to slip somewhere and your impact on society would be minimal.
The newly inducted President made a passionate appeal to the Moderator to mobilize the entire PCG and the General Assembly Council to support the University to tackle her serious infrastructural deficit. He maintained that the PUCG is the project of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the church must ensure that it succeeds to become the best amongst the lot. In his opinion, twelve years (12), is too short a time for the University to be weaned off the church’s support and said some public universities were over 60 years, yet they enjoy the largesse of the state. He therefore pointed out that the church should have the capacity to support the University looking at the strength of its Presbyteries.
He said the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana must ensure that all the Presbyteries within the church support the University irrespective of the fact that any of the University campus was not within their Presbyteries. This way the youth in the church would benefit.
In receiving the in-coming President on behalf of the PUCG Council, Prof. Frank S. Arku, the Vice President of the University pledged the loyalty and dedication of the entire staff to the administrative direction of the President towards the achievement of his vision and added that ‘the kind of staff that made you succeed at University Cape Coast can be found here’ In attendance were the Clergy, family members and friends of the President including a high powered delegation from the University of Cape Coast led by the V-C. Prof. D.D. Kuupole.
PRO.