University Community remembers departed Chancellor

Accra, March 6, GNA - The Chairman of the University of Ghana Council, Dr Ismael Yamson on Sunday called on the University community to rededicate itself to the motto 'Integri Procedamus' (progress with integrity) to bring back the shine that made Legon one of the finest universities in the world.

Dr Yamson was speaking at a memorial service organized for the Former Chancellor of the University Ghana Legon, Nana Wereko Ampem II at the Great Hall by members of the University of Ghana community. He said with the coming into force of the Fourth Republican Constitution, it became necessary in 1998 to appoint a person other than the Head of State as the Chancellor and the choice naturally fell on Nana Ampem. He said Nana Ampem served his first five-year term with distinction. In April 2004, the Council of the University decided to renew his tenure as Chancellor for another five-year term to expire in March 2009. Nana accepted this renewed mandate with gratitude but he was not able to complete his second term.

Dr Yamson said Nana Ampem was a man of superlatively high standards and complete integrity, adding that he donated to his alma mater a priceless collection of Ashanti Gold weights that he personally bought from a collector in Germany.

In a tribute by Nana Awuku Sakyi, the Akyempembene of Amanokrom and a son of the Nana Ampem, he said his father was born in 1930 at Amanokrom and he attended the Suhum Presbyterian Senior School and completed in 1945 with Middle School Leaving Certificate. He was admitted to the Accra Academy and completed in 1950. In October 1951 he gained admission to the University College of the Gold Coast to read a degree in Economics and completed in 1954 and was awarded a

Ghana Government Scholarship and furthered his education at theLondon School of Economics and completed in 1956 with First Class Honours. He returned to Ghana and took up appointment with University. He became the Government's Statistician in 1960, the first Ghanaian to hold such a position. He was awarded the Grand Medal Civil Division in 1960. Nana Ampem has to his credit several published articles on the Ghanaian economy. He later became a consultant in management. He was an Honorary Fellow of United Kingdom Royal Statisticians in 1970 and in 1998 Nana Ampem was honoured with a degree of Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa) during the golden jubilee celebration of the University of Ghana.

The Memorial Service was attended by the Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof C.N.B. Tagoe, Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Kwesi Yankah; the Registrar Mr A.T. Konu, Deans of various faculties, Heads of Department, Students and past Vice-Chancellors of the University, including Professor A.A. Kwapong and Prof Ivan Addae-Mensah and traditional rulers from Amanokrom 6 March 06