3 Former University of Ghana VCs honoured

Three former vice chancellors of the University of Ghana, Legon, on Sunday had their names literally etched in letters of gold in view of their contribution to Ghana’s premier university during their tenure.

The gesture was meant to appreciate the role of the three who were vice chancellors in succession.

The three – Professors Akilagpa Sawyerr (1985-1992); George Benneh (1992-1996) and Ivan Addae-Mensah (1996-2002), had a roundabout, road and intersection named after them by the university, in close collaboration with the Alumni Association.

Unlike other instances when people had been honoured posthumously, the honourees were present at last Friday’s event.

Unveiling of monuments

The heavens endorsed the honouring of the past University of Ghana Vice Chancellors with intermittent showers of rain during the brief ceremony to mark the occasion and they had the opportunity to respond to the university’s gesture.

Prof. Benneh, assisted by the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, started the symbolic event at the University of Ghana Roundabout, now named the ‘George Benneh Circle’, by unveiling a monument bearing his name, boldly emblazoned in letters of gold. 

The second to unveil a signage bearing his name was Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr, who had the stretch of road from the roundabout into the university named after him.

As if by design, it was the first intersection on the Akilagpa Sawyerr Road that was named after Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, making the honouring event a three-tie affair with the apt description, ‘Professors Stretch’.

Responses

In his response, Prof. Benneh thanked God for his ability to witness the honour done him, describing it as “the crowning of all the honours that I have received.”

He drew laughter from the sizeable audience made up of family members, university staff and alumni when he stated that “This honour demonstrates quite clearly that you do not have to belong to the political class before you have a road or circle named after you in the capital city of Ghana.”

Prof. Sawyerr, for his part, described as an irony of fate, the naming of an asphalted road at the university after him. He recounted that during his tenure, the first road to be asphalted attracted some controversy when he was accused of embarking on an expensive project that was not necessary. 

Prof. Addae-Mensah recounted the benefits he gained from his predecessors when he took office. After thanking the university and its alumni association for the honour done him, he stated that intersections were prone to accidents as they were very busy portions of the street.

He, therefore, urged that steps must be taken to provide traffic lights at the intersection named after him to prevent any accidents.

All the honourees paid glowing tribute to the staff who served under them such as secretaries, registrars and drivers.

Alumni

The Chairman of the University of Ghana Alumni Association, Mr Kwesi Yankey, said they received GH¢250,000 support from Ecobank to construct the two fountains and monuments at the circle.

He also said Prof. Benneh always encouraged the alumni in whatever they did, while Prof. Addae-Mensah continued where Prof. Benneh left off, making the two and Prof. Sawyerr deserving of the honour that was done them. 

“I am very delighted that the university has found it fit to name these things after them,” Mr Yankey said, and encouraged other alumni to support the university.

Writer’s email: edmund.asante@graphic.com.gh