UGBS celebrates UG at 70 with grand homecoming

As part of the UG @ 70 activities, the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) held a Homecoming for its Alumni at the School’s premises.

The homecoming event which was in three sessions, namely Akwaaba Bash, Alumni Activities and Alumni/Faculty Games, commenced with a welcome address by Prof. John Effah, an Associate Professor in the Department of Operations and Management Information Systems and also a representative of UGBS on the Alumni Executive Board. He welcomed Alumni and Faculty present, giving a brief history of the School, including the various modifications that have been done. He further led the Alumni in attendance to acquaint themselves with each other by introducing themselves to one another.

The President of the UGBS Alumni Association, Dr. Kwaku Ofosu Asare on his part acknowledged Dr. Onomah and his team, for laying the foundation of the Alumni Association and the immediate past executives for their efforts to revamp the Association. He stated that alumni bodies all over the world play a great role in supporting their schools, thus it was right for them to do the same. He applauded the past Deans, Dr. Joshua Y. Abor and Prof. K.A. Domfeh, as well as the School Administrator, Mr. Poku-Sarkodee for their immense contributions toward Alumni activities.

He made known a few of their current projects for the school, including the raising of funds for the Hall of Fame, the establishment of an Alumni Centre and others. He was certain that just like the past administration, they would establish a good relationship with the incumbent Dean, Prof. Justice Bawole and reiterated their dedication to the cause of the school.

Dr. Abdul-Gafaru Abdul, a Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of the UGBS-Executive Development (ED) also gave a short description of the ED unit and their relationship with Alumni.

The first session of the event ended with, Dean of UGBS Prof. Justice N. Bawole narrating his academic journey to the audience. He further thanked the Alumni Association for their presence, assuring them of his willingness to work with them closely to achieve the School’s goals. He commended his predecessors for their enormous accomplishments.

Prof. Bawole enumerated on the current achievements of the School, the population of faculty, staff, students and other areas. He promised to address some of the issues raised by the Alumni to correct some bad impressions about the school. He encouraged feedback from Alumni to help shape and improve the School’s services. He further implored the Alumni Association members who are heads of corporate institutions to help institute awards for students and faculty, preferably awards for faculty who go beyond the curriculum, students who create enterprises, most innovative lecturers and student supportive lecturers. He added that these award schemes can help push faculty to go beyond the usual classroom activity. “It is our collective responsibility to make UGBS greater than it already is” Prof. Bawole indicated.

Participants of the event proceeded to the School’s Executive Square, where they were treated to delicious waakye and kenkey accompanied by drinks and kebab for lunch.

The homecoming was climaxed with the Alumni and Faculty games and interactive sessions which were coordinated by Dr. Raphael Odoom, a Lecturer in the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Alumni from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000’s revisited their experiences as students of the Business School and interacted with each other while playing games such as snooker, table tennis, PS4, and the likes together with faculty and staff of the School.

Some Alumni present were Mr. Franklin Owusu Asafo Agyei, Dr. Kwaku Ofosu Asare, President of the UGBS Alumni Association, Mr. Peter Opoku Mensah, Mr. Kofi Boye, Immediate Past President of the UGBS Alumni Association, Dr. Onomah, National Secretary for UGBS Alumni Association, Mrs. Mariam Dongyela Millah among others.