Accra: The SDD University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) has celebrated a landmark moment with the graduation of its first cohort from the School of Law, alongside a special graduation ceremony for the School of Graduate Studies and Research.
According to Ghana News Agency, a total of 61 students graduated from the School of Law, comprising 55 males and six females. Additionally, the School of Graduate Studies and Research saw 74 postgraduate students, including PhD, MPhil, and MSc graduates, with 63 males and eleven females receiving their degrees. Currently, the School of Law hosts a total of 464 students, with 317 males and 147 females enrolled at various levels.
Professor Emmanuel K. Derbile, Vice Chancellor of SDD-UBIDS, highlighted the significance of this event, marking the first time in northern Ghana's academic history that a university in the region has awarded Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degrees. He emphasized the university's commitment to academic excellence, innovative research, and alignment with national development goals.
The Vice Chancellor also acknowledged the contributions of individuals like Prof. John Baloro, Consultant Dean of the School of Law, and Prof. Atua Appiah-Agyei, former Consultant Dean, for their efforts in fostering the success of the School.
Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor, Chairman of the SDD-UBIDS Governing Council, noted the potential impact of the graduating law students on governance and public policy in Ghana. He addressed challenges in the justice sector, such as delays and perceptions of politicization, urging efforts to restore public confidence in the judiciary.
Prof. Augustine Ocloo, Deputy Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, representing the Minister for Education, praised SDD-UBIDS for maintaining academic standards and producing the first law graduates in northern Ghana. His Lordship Barima Yaw Kodie, Director of Legal Education, encouraged the new graduates to join the Bar and contribute to the nation's legal landscape.
Charles Lwanga Puozuing (Esq), Upper West Regional Minister, reiterated the importance of the SDD-UBIDS Law School in decentralizing legal education in Ghana. The ceremony also featured notable guests, including executives from the Ghana Bar Association, Justice Yonny Kulendi of the Supreme Court, and Prof. Raymond Atuguba, former Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law.
