The University of Ghana School of Law (UGSoL) added another defining chapter to its history on Thursday, 12th February 2026, as it celebrated the graduation of its fourth cohort of Master of Laws (LLM) and Master of Arts (MA) students. The afternoon session, held at the Cedi Conference Centre at the University of Ghana, was a vibrant affair, marking the successful culmination of rigorous academic journeys for the latest graduates of West Africa’s premier law school. The ceremony, the fourth of six congregation sessions for the School of Graduate Studies, was a formal yet joyous occasion graced by distinguished members of the university community. Presiding over the event was Madam Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, respected legal practitioner, a former Attorney-General of Ghana, and current Chairperson of the University of Ghana’s Governing Council, who represented the Chancellor.
In her opening remarks, Madam Appiah-Oppong congratulated the graduands on their resilience and discipline. She reminded them that their achievement was a collective effort, acknowledging the vital roles played by families and faculty. "Education, combined with initiative and integrity, remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming society," she stated, urging the graduates to use their knowledge in service to Ghana and the world. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah-Amfo, presented her State of the University Address, highlighting the institution's remarkable progress. She proudly announced that the University of Ghana School of Law has been ranked the best in Ghana and West Africa, and sixth in Africa, in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject for law and this drew thunderous applause from the audience. "So, you didn’t make a mistake at all in this choice," she quipped to the delighted graduands, reaffirming the School's status as a premier centre for legal education and research.
Though unable to attend in person, the guest speaker, Mrs. Mabel Nana Nyakuma-Pobe, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Sanlam Alliance General Insurance Ghana Limited, delivered a powerful and inspiring recorded address. With over 26 years of industry experience, she shared invaluable "life nuggets" drawn from her own winding career path. She encouraged the graduates to embrace uncertainty, lead with integrity, and remember that "small doors can open big rooms." Her five key lessons, starting where you are, leading beyond your title, valuing collaboration, never negotiating on integrity, and embracing uncertainty, resonated deeply with the new alumni.
The emotional high point of the afternoon was the valedictory speech delivered by Clara Opoku-Boakye, who graduated with an LLM in Human Rights Law and Practice as a KGL Foundation scholar. With humour and grace, she reflected on the shared experiences of the cohort: the humbling nature of graduate research, the required balance act of work, life, and study, and the camaraderie forged through late-night lectures, virtual classes and group studies. As a mother who began the programme with a 12-week-old baby, Clara’s journey was a testament to perseverance. She poignantly acknowledged her partner, a fellow graduand, and dedicated her achievement to a friend, late Francis Ewurum Agyiri, who had predicted her valedictorian status. "We leave here not just with degrees," she concluded, "but with responsibility to apply our knowledge ethically, to remain curious, and to serve with humility."
The presentation of certificates was conducted by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Professor Patrick Asamoah-Sakyi, who presented the candidates to the Chancellor’s representative for conferment. In a roll call celebrating the diversity of the programme, over 340 students were awarded various graduate degrees including specialisations in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labour Law, Maritime Law, International Law, Gender and the Law, and Natural Resources Law, among others. In a special moment of recognition, international students from countries including Benin, Nigeria, the USA, and Tanzania were asked to stand and be acknowledged for their contribution to the university's academic and social life.
As the ceremony came to a close, the fresh graduates performed the time-honoured tradition of moving their tassels from right to left, officially symbolising their new status as alumni of the University of Ghana. They were urged to be worthy ambassadors and to let the university's core values of integrity, commitment, and service guide their paths.
With the formal dissolution of the congregation by the Chancellor’s representative, the newly minted legal minds, equipped with advanced knowledge and a renewed sense of purpose stepped out into the world, ready to shape Ghana’s legal and industrial landscape and beyond. The event concluded with a group photograph, capturing the pride and promise of the UGSoL LLM/MA Class of 2025.
