Embrace principles of integrity to safeguard UG’s reputation -UG Valedictorian

Valedictorian of the August 2024 graduating cohort of the University of Ghana (UG) School of Graduate Studies, Miss Gifty Owusu, has urged her colleague graduates to uphold the principles of integrity and authenticity to achieve high standards and ensure the university’s reputation is safeguarded both locally and internationally.

This, she said, includes avoiding plagiarism and properly citing sources, following instructions and guidelines for assignments and exams, and refraining from cheating, falsifying data or sabotaging others’ work.

“My coursemates, do you remember the day Professor Justice Bawole said, ‘I know that you will put this assignment in ChatGPT and bring it to me to mark, but I will catch you all’.”

She emphasised that it is a testament to the evolving landscape of education and the challenges students faced with technology and academic integrity. Miss Owusu shared this advice in her valedictory speech during the University’s August 2024 congregation ceremony in Accra.

Gifty Owusu, who was crowned as valedictorian with a Final Grade Point Average (FGPA) of 3.96, mentioned that the intellectual rigour demanded by lecturers plays a pivotal role in their academic and professional growth.

The valedictorian is currently an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Climate Analyst at Makers and Partners, an audit firm. She therefore touched on the consequences of climate change, adding: “This makes it the duty and responsibility of each of us here to play a role in addressing this global challenge”.

Miss Gifty Owusu completed her Senior High School (SHS) education in 2016 at Ejisuman SHS, where served as the Senior Girls’ Prefect. She continued at UG for her undergraduate studies and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Resource Development with a minor in Sociology at a high FGPA of 3.83.

Driven by her passion for climate change and environmental sustainability, Gifty completed her national service with the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies where she got the opportunity to work as a Research Assistant on various climate change-related projects.

Her enthusiasm for these critical issues led her to enrol in the Master’s programme at the Centre in 2023, providing her with a solid foundation in climate change and environmental sustainability, research and policy analysis.

After her successful completion of the MSc. programme as the best-graduating student with an impressive FGPA of 3.96, her immediate desire is to continue with doctoral studies to fulfil her desire and ambition to eventually work as an academic.

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