Twenty nine (29) students who undertook four-year degree courses in various disciplines at the Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG), Fiapre near Sunyani have graduated at a ceremony to mark the second congregation of the University. The students received First, Second and Third Class Honours in theoretical and practical training in subject areas such as BSc. Computer Science, BSc. Economics and Business and BA in Religious Studies. In his welcoming address, Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Catholic University College of Ghana, Fiapre, said; “the Catholic church from the beginning of its existence saw its evangelizing mission as having not only a spiritual but a material dimension, thus, enabling the Church to put premium on education. “It is this vision of education that inspired the Catholic Church in Ghana many years ago to establish schools at the primary and secondary levels in the country. It was this same vision that inspired the Ghana Catholic Bishops in 1997 to conceive the idea of establishing a Catholic University in the country as a logical step to make education accessible to all,” he stated. Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, appealed to the graduands to justify the investment made on their education and live morally upright lives by not allowing themselves to be driven by the inordinate desire for money and corrupt practices. He said today’s society is characterized by immorality, indiscipline, bribery and corruption, misappropriation of public funds, killing, rape and sexual promiscuity and warned that their involvement in any of these would not, in any way benefit society. “Against this background it’s incomprehensible and mind-boggling that the new education reforms should leave out of the syllabus Moral and Religious Education, and consign it to be taught as a mere “concept” in the teaching of English and other subjects. The teaching of Religious and Moral Education as a subject in its own right was to promote proper moral formation of the human person as advocated by Catholic Bishops in a Conference on Education in Kumasi recently”, he added. Professor James Hawkins Ephraim, Vice-Chancellor of CUCG, thanked the leaderships of Reverend Father Dr. Michael Schultiess and Professor Ebow Mensah, as President and former Acting President respectively for initially heading the administration of the University as their good works have culminated in laying a solid foundation upon which the CUCG now stands. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the introduction of two new faculties, Public Health and Allied Sciences and Education have seen an increase in the population of students from 50 students in 2003 to 902 students in 2007. “Reports from institutions and establishments where our students do industrial attachments and establishments where our first graduates have found their way indicate that our products are measuring up to the aspirations of the founding fathers”, he stated. He however, said the University expects to make a partial movement to the permanent site with facilities such as a resource centre (made up of computer and language laboratories, a library and classroom block) in the 2008/2009 academic year. “The contractors have assured us that come April 2008, they will be able to handover the buildings to the University”, he reiterated. Professor Ephraim reiterated; “the resolve of the University to instill discipline in its students in order to maintain high academic standards and to develop and produce men and women who are adequately equipped with the appropriate capacities to lead useful and fulfilling lives to the service of God and humanity.” Source: GNA