Adom News Editor, Samuel Nii Narku Dowuona, and Asempa FM Programmes Director, Samuel Kwadade Yirenkyi, obtained First Class Honours at this year’s University of Ghana (UG) Congregation. The two were among a record 26 graduands who obtained First Class Honours in Bachelor of Arts, Communications Studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), an affiliate of the UG. Samuel Yirenkyi was a Public Relations Major, while Samuel Dowuona was a Journalism Major. Out of 108 GIJ students who graduated, 39 obtained Second Class Upper, 66 obtained Second Class Lower, one hard Third Class, and one other had a pass. Sammy Yirenkyi has been with the Multimedia Group for over 10 years – from Nhyira FM, through Joy FM, Adom FM and now Asempa FM. He has risen from a reporter, sports correspondent, producer to currently Programmes Director, a management position. Sammy Dowuona worked with the Ghana News Agency for 13 years as reporter, senior reporter and telecoms correspondent before joining Multimedia as News Editor at Adom FM. He expressed his gratitude to his wife Mavis for supporting him throughout the two years of his degree education, but said his son Darrel has a lot to do with his success. “When my son was born I won my first GJA Award, when he turned two, I won a second GJA Award - he turned three this month and I have obtained First Class Honours – I can’t wait for him to be four,” Sammy said with smiles. Sammy is also a member of Ghana’s leading Acappella Music Group, the Alabaster Box. Meanwhile, a total of 4,408 persons graduated from the University of Ghana and its Affiliates this year. Out of the figure, 21 were doctoral candidates, 825 postgraduate masters, 2,976 undergraduates and 565 diploma and certificate graduands. Twelve percent of the graduands obtained First Class Honours, 31 percent had second class upper, 49 percent obtained second class lower, and some 16 percent of the Diploma students obtained distinction. Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey congratulated the graduands and urged them to pursue further studies and go into research and returning to teach at the university at some point in the lives. He reminded them that this is just the beginning of a new phase of their lives so they should take advantage of it and reach for higher laurels. Adom News/Ghana