The Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) at Fiapre, a suburb of Sunyani in the Bono region has matriculated a total of 1,607 graduates comprising 1,260 undergraduate and 347 postgraduate students on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
What began as a humble institution with just 50 students now boasts an impressive enrollment of 2,169 fresh students this academic year.
Delivering a speech during the 24th congregation and 46th matriculation ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Matthew Glover Addo, acknowledged the institution’s commitment to providing quality education, while also highlighting the challenges that lie ahead.
“Like any other institution, we face several challenges, including the need for improved internal roads, modern laboratories, ICT infrastructure, and adequate residential facilities,” he stated, urging Corporate Ghana, alumni, and development partners to collaborate in making CUG a modern university that competes on a global scale.
A key initiative announced during the ceremony was the construction of a University Chapel. With the university now 23 years old, Professor Addo emphasized the importance of having a sacred space for reflection, prayer, and spiritual growth, expressing the need for support from the Church, faith-based organizations, and individuals to bring this vision to fruition.
Turning to environmental concerns, Professor Addo addressed the pressing issue of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, which threatens the country’s rivers and forests.
He called for immediate bipartisan efforts to combat this destructive practice, challenging students and graduates to take the lead in environmental advocacy and sustainable development. “Let us choose life over wealth. Let us choose legacy over income,” he urged.
For his part, the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Address Akwaboa, assured attendees that the government is implementing policies to attract private investment throughout the country.
He stressed the importance of readiness, innovation, and entrepreneurship among graduates, stating, “the future belongs not just to those with degrees, but to those who are prepared, proactive, and purposeful.”
In conclusion, the Minister called on the new students and graduates to nurture an entrepreneurial mindset as they navigate a rapidly changing global economy, emphasizing that their ability to innovate and solve real-world challenges will be crucial to both their success and the transformation of Ghana.
By Claude Kumi Abisa
