Sister Sandra Adjei, SMMC, of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church, has been named Overall Best Graduating Student at the 25th Congregation and 38th Matriculation Ceremony of the Catholic University of Ghana (CUG), held at the university’s quadrangle in Fiapre, Sunyani.
The ceremony brought together university leaders, clergy, government officials, parents and well-wishers to celebrate 2,806 graduates, comprising 668 postgraduate and 2,138 undergraduate students, alongside the matriculation of new students.
Amid the celebrations, Sr. Sandra stood out for her academic achievement and delivered an inspiring valedictory address on behalf of the graduating class of 2026.
Cardinal Turkson reflects on the purpose of education
The ceremony began with a welcome address by His Eminence Peter Kodwo Appiah Cardinal Turkson, Chancellor of the Catholic University of Ghana and Chairman of its Governing Council.
Cardinal Turkson reminded the university community of its enduring mission to combine rigorous intellectual pursuit with moral discipline and human solidarity.
In his address, he described education as a continuous process that does not have a definite beginning or end.
“we gather to celebrate a human endeavour that has a beginning – though does not really have a beginning – and that appears to have an end or conclusion, which is also not real, because it continues.”
Cardinal Turkson also urged the matriculants to embrace a life shaped by integrity, faithfulness and compassion.
According to him, just as people need ‘manuals’ to succeed in life, the students’ stay on campus over the next few years would help them gather the manuals that had already begun to take shape in their homes and schools and would continue to develop at the university.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Matthew Glover Addo, highlighted the institution’s growth, revealing that the university had surpassed its enrolment targets, recording 3,648 new student admissions across the academic year.
He commended the graduating students for their dedication and encouraged them to uphold the values of integrity, service and professional excellence instilled by the university.
The representative of the Bono Regional Minister also emphasised the importance of higher education in equipping young professionals with practical, innovative and ethical competencies to address societal challenges, transform local communities and promote sustainable national development.
A triumph for the SMMC congregation
Sr. Sandra Adjei’s achievement reflects the commitment to hard work, academic excellence, educational leadership, service and societal transformation associated with the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (SMMC).
Known for her simplicity and dedication, Sr. Sandra has demonstrated how faith, hard work and intellectual curiosity can combine to make a meaningful contribution to society.
In her valedictory address, she reflected on the experiences and shared values that shaped the graduating class.
“Standing here today to speak on behalf of such a remarkable graduating class of 2026 is such an honour… The Catholic University of Ghana is a place every student should experience because it is uniquely unique… We all came here as individuals with different backgrounds, struggles, and dreams, yet CUG held a space for each of those unique stories. Today, we graduate as ‘unique individuals’ built and shaped by the same conviction, belief, values, and principles of life.”
The Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church also celebrated two other members of the congregation, Sr. Mabel Vifa, SMMC, and Sr. Naomi Brabi, SMMC, who graduated alongside Sr. Sandra with outstanding academic achievements.
The congregation congratulated the three sisters on their accomplishments and wished them abundant grace and continued success in their vocation and professional endeavours.
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