The Vice-Chancellor of Presbyterian University, Ghana (PUG), Prof. John Ofosu-Anim, has urged newly admitted students to prioritize healthy academic networking over harmful relationships. He warned that wrong relationships and networks remain a major cause of failure among university students, stressing that PUG will not compromise on discipline. This advice was given during the matriculation ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Prof. Ofosu-Anim explained that the university environment exposes students to freedom and diverse choices, and that the kind of friends and networks they build on campus will largely determine their success or failure. Many students lose focus and fail not because they lack ability, but because they associate with peers who negatively influence their values, discipline, and academic commitment. He reiterated the university's commitment to producing graduates who are academically excellent, morally upright, and ready to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The Presbyterian University, Ghana, matriculated a total of 720 postgraduate students into various faculties of the university. The ceremony was held in three phases from October 9th to 24th, 2026, at the university's Akuapem and Asante Akyem Agogo campuses. The fresh students have been enrolled to pursue various postgraduate programmes, including MPhil and M.Ed in Educational Studies, MA Guidance and Counselling, and Master of Public Health.
Of the total, 385 students were admitted to the Master of Public Health (MPH) programme, a milestone since the programme was introduced. Prof. Ofosu-Anim explained that the MPH programme was introduced to build human capacity in public health following the global shortage of professionals exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged students to use their large numbers as an opportunity for collaboration, peer support, and knowledge sharing, rather than isolation.
The Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Nana Osei Akomeah Prince, disclosed that the Master of Public Health programme has trained about 600 students in the last five years. Tracer studies conducted on graduates show that most are currently serving in key areas of the health sector, including the Ministry of Health, local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), health directorates, and consultancy services.
The MPH programme places a strong emphasis on practical training, equipping students with both theoretical and practical competencies that are immediately applicable at their workplaces. The location of the Asante Akyem Agogo Campus, which offers the MPH programme, in a semi-rural area provides a unique advantage for students to engage directly with communities, diagnose community health problems, and design interventions to address them.
He expressed confidence that the continuous growth in enrolment for the MPH programme reflects the quality and relevance of the training being offered by the university. The Vice-Chancellor's advice to freshmen is a reminder that academic success is not just about academic ability, but also about the company one keeps and the values one upholds.
Key points
- Wrong peer associations can lead to academic failure among university students.
- Presbyterian University Ghana matriculated 720 postgraduate students for the 2025/2026 academic year.
- The Master of Public Health programme has trained about 600 students in the last five years.
