The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana (AIMS Ghana) held its fourth graduation ceremony on June 25, 2016, at the Centre for National Culture, Cape Coast, to award forty-eight students with Master’s degrees in Mathematical Sciences.

The graduates, eighteen females and thirty males drawn from sixteen African countries, were encouraged to go to the world and use the skills learnt from their studies for Africa’s development. “Bear in mind also that your upward mobility depends on what you do with the degree you are receiving today from one of the greatest institution in the world. The sky is the only turning point, but remember, you cannot climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets”, said Prof. Aba Bentil Andam, first Ghanaian female physicist and guest speaker at the fourth graduation ceremony.

The students were enthused about the ceremony, and were full of praises to the Founder and leadership of AIMS for the quality of education instilled in them; preparing them for greater laurels as they go to the world. Ten of the students received the F. K. A Allotey Meritorious Excellence Award for their exceptional academic performance at the centre. The valedictorian, Mr George Balla from Uganda, urged his colleagues to work together to and put to use the mathematical machinery installed in them. “As you travel through life, when you stop and look behind you, many the times you have been happy far outnumber the times when fate has been unkind and many much more happiness await you on your journey yet to be”, said George.

The ceremony was officiated by Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana; Prof. J. B. A. Afful, Vice Dean, School of Graduate Studies, University of Cape Coast; Prof. Isaac K. Dontwi, Dean, Institute of Distance Learning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Present at the ceremony were AIMS Ghana Board member, Rev. Prof. S.K Adjepong, Nananom from the Cape Coast Traditional Councils, led by Osaberima Kwesi Atta, USAID Ghana Partnership for Education team led by Dr Guitele Nicoleau, and invited guest.