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Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Former VC for University of Ghana Legon has been inducted into Office a the 3rd President of Presbyterian University College, Ghana, (PUCG)
at a special ceremony organised by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the PUCG Council at the Ramseyer Chapel of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), at Kwahu Abetifi.

Addressing the gathering after his investiture, Prof. Oduro Owusu said he has taken over the mantle of leadership of the Great university, He will do so with humility and the firmest conviction that leadership is a great call to serve humanity.

According to the President, this would need the collective efforts of the entire leadership, backed by the commitment and hard work of all academic and non-academic staff as well as students to couch an enviable reputation for the University as a beacon of discipline, excellence, and moral uprightness.

Prof. Oduro Owusu expressed gratitude to all past and present faculty and staff of the University for their relentless efforts and commitment to the success of the mission and vision of the University.

He trust that he can count on the strong commitment of all towards the full attainment of the University’s mission, he said.

The New President disclosed that since assuming office, he has visited the Omanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II and interacted with almost all the Chiefs in the Kwahu State, for introduction and to engage in strategic consultations.

He noted that the interactions with the traditional leaders exposed him to a valuable learning curve after ample diagnosis of the problems bedevilling the University.

He said the Presbyterian Church of Ghana is celebrated not only as a religious organisation but as a distinguished pioneer in the introduction of quality education in Ghana.

It is in that light that the Presbyterian University College, Ghana was established and dedicated in 2003 to design and implement academic programmes within the context of Christian ethics that produce holistic human development, research and outreach for the global population (In our case as Presbyterians, the Head, the Heart, and the Hands).

He therefore appealed to Nananom and all Opinion Leaders who have in one way or the other been offended by the University, to forgive us and come on board once again.

He also implored all their stakeholders and especially staff who in the past 2 years have left for whatever reasons to consider re-joining the University in whatever form to rebuild a stronger and more reputable university that will serve humanity in all terms.

Prof. Oduro Owusu said his leadership philosophy is based on the biblical concept that all humans are created by the same God in His own image and therefore, consider his good self as only “Primus inter pares”, i.e., “first among equals”. “To this end, he expect them to show absolute respect to one another in our various lines of duty,” he reiterated.

According to the President, Respect, Truthfulness, Humility, Integrity and Resource Mobilization are the keywords going to shape the future direction of the institution; and expect this to run through the entire staff and student body of the university.

He posited that as a Presbyterian institution, the expectation is that the University provides the needed “missing” puzzle in the national developmental language, i.e., discipline and morally upright leadership, to ensure that “we find our rightful place as a nation in world development and economic order,” he underscored noting that students of the University will have to stand out in terms of moral and ethical behaviours reminding them of its motto: Discipline in leadership!

Prof. Oduro Owusu said that Innovation and Excellence in teaching and research are key parameters for recognition and attainment of worldwide respect of an academic institution.

He stated that these areas would be strongly encouraged, specially recognized and rewarded in all segments of the University to motivate commitment, passion and dynamism in the staff towards the development of a respectable research and training institution.

He said each Campus in the University would be tasked to identify specific areas of achievement to enable them leverage on them for excellence stimulation.

“Under my leadership, the pursuit of excellence and innovation would particularly be encouraged for their relevance to the development of the nation – directly or through the training of high calibre morally upright result-oriented graduates – and partnering with other research and development institutions/agents worldwide to make recognized outstanding contributions to the global community,” he stated.

Prof. Oduro Owusu disclosed that he will lead a strategic team of achievers from different segments of the University to plan, raise resources, implement concrete actions, and evaluate their contributions to the advancement of the University as a top-notch Academic, Research and Development-oriented institution.

“As President of the Presbyterian University College, Ghana, I commit myself to fairness, firmness and remain highly dedicated to the promotion of high academic and moral standards through judicious application of the statutes and other relevant regulations/policies, while providing a conducive environment for excellent teaching, learning, research, and service delivery,” Prof. Oduro Owusu pledged.

He said the major focus will be on how to promote the adoption of appropriate innovations through basic and demand-driven research, as well as effective student enrolment and other outreach programmes. I will provide strategic leadership to ensure that the Presbyterian University remains financially stable and make a mark on world Universities rankings in all possible ranking categories.

The Moderator for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante called on the new president to live up to expectations and deliver beyond doubts.