September 11, 2015
In a short matriculation ceremony held in the Motulsky Hall at Ashesi, members of the Class of 2019 were officially welcomed into Ashesi’s community. Ashesi’s Executive committee, Head of Departments and representatives from the University of Mines and Technology led the ceremony, with faculty, staff and several upperclassmen also present.
As part of their matriculation, Ashesi’s newest students pledged to be committed members of the university community, saying: “I promise to be an active member of the Ashesi community, to uphold Ashesi’s Code of Ethics, to work diligently and be intellectually curious, to learn about and practice leadership, to be accountable to myself and others, and to uphold all policies of the University as stated in the Student Handbook. So help me God.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Ashesi President, Patrick Awuah, delivered a sombre reminder to the Class of 2019, that oaths like the one they had taken were no guarantee against dishonor. Highlighting recent allegations of judicial corruption headlining news in Ghana, he challenged the class to look beyond appearances, and choose to act honorable always.
“What a disgrace and a very sad moment for our country that we have a video, which I have not seen yet, allegedly showing some of [Ghana’s] most esteemed people taking bribes,” he told the class. “Yet what is happening in Ghana is also happening all over Africa. We have had independence for years, yet we continue to be disgraced in front of the world. Why? Because people who have taken oaths and made promises, to be the leaders and guardians of our society, instead have disgraced us.”
“It is a disgrace, that the judicial service did not clean up itself,” he added. “It is a disgrace that it has required a journalist – a civilian with far less power – to do this work. It is a disgrace that Ghana’s security services were not the ones to uncover this rot in our judiciary. I am asking you, do not become a disgrace. I am challenging you to hold each other to the promise of honorable conduct that you just made. I am challenging you to be the generation that will restore Africa’s honor, and help change this continent.”
The matriculation ceremony marked the culmination of a weeklong orientation program for the Class of 2019. With 26% of students coming from outside Ghana, and the fact that the class will pioneer Ashesi’s Engineering program, there is keenness to see how our new students will influence campus culture. The class also underscores our commitment to building gender balance in Engineering at Ashesi, as women make up 40% of the pioneer group of Engineering students.
“While I’m here, I hope to imbibe some of the virtues that we have discussed during orientation thus far,” said Delase Joy Dafeamekpor ‘19. “I want to develop my character better and learn to embrace diversity.”
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