Mrs. Faustina Essel Adepa, the Principal, School of Peri-Operative and Critical Care Nursing, has charged newly graduated trained specialist nurses to step into their professions as agents of change and contributors to a more resilient healthcare system in Ghana.
She urged them to go into the world with their expertise, to save lives, shape communities and strengthen national health outcomes.
The Principal was speaking at the 9th Joint Graduation Ceremony held by the School of Peri-Operative and Critical Care Nursing, Ophthalmic Nursing School, Public Health Nursing School, and School of Anaesthesia, in Accra.
It was on the theme, “Empowering a Resilient Healthcare System in Ghana through Specialised Nursing.”
The ceremony saw 414 students from the four Schools conferred with certificates after years of rigorous academic and clinical training.
The graduating class included 162 from Peri-Operative and Critical Care Nursing, 128 from the Public Health Nursing School, 89 from Ophthalmic Nursing, and 35 from the School of Anesthesia.
Mrs Adepa described the ceremony as a celebration of perseverance, sacrifice, and professionalism.
“You have endured long hours of study, intense clinical practice, and numerous challenges. Today, we honour your resilience, your commitment, and your passion for nursing,” she said.
She emphasised that the health sector needed not just more practitioners, but dedicated specialists ready to drive transformation.
The Principal noted that the skills and expertise of the graduates would save lives, strengthen communities, and contribute significantly to national development.
Mrs Adepa extended appreciation to families, mentors, and faculty members whose support had been pivotal to the graduates’ success.
“This achievement is shared. Your investment in these graduates will continue to bear fruit as they make meaningful contributions to society,” she added.
She said the careers of the newly trained specialists would require courage, innovation, empathy, and sound judgement, particularly in complex clinical situations where their decisions may determine the course of a patient’s life.
The Principal encouraged the graduates to wear their caps and gowns with pride, reminding them of the responsibility and honour associated with the nursing profession.
Professor Elvis Ofori Ameyaw, the Deputy Director, Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy, University of Cape Coast, said the ceremony was a reaffirmation of Ghana’s commitment to producing a specialised and ethically grounded workforce.
He said their achievement was not only a testament to their intelligence but also to their resilience, discipline and commitment to humanity.
Professor Ameyaw said specialised nursing was no longer an added advantage but a national necessity, such that Ghana’s evolving health profile demanded a workforce, equipped with technical expertise, emotional intelligence and the ability to function effectively.
“Collectively, you embody the competences required to strengthen Ghana’s health system,” he added.
He reaffirmed the University’s continuous support through curriculum oversight, quality assurance, research collaboration, faculty development and capacity building initiatives.
Professor Ameyaw urged the graduates to approach every patient with empathy, embrace new technologies, new knowledge and new methods as they stepped into the professional world.
