Sunyani Oct. 04 GNA - Professor James Hawkins Ephraim, Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University College of Ghana at the weekend asked freshers at the institution to endeavour to lead decent, moderate and disciplined lives on campus.

He told them: "The University has already placed value on you! You are to be transformed into a royal priesthood, a people set apart to do greater things for God and the nation". Professor Ephraim was addressing the ninth matriculation of the University at Fiapre, near Sunyani, at which 839 fresh students were admitted into the institution. The University, with its modern facilities for learning, serene environment, discipline on campus and the various programmes available to students, has two admissions windows; August and January in an academic year.

The Vice Chancellor urged the new students to lead morally upright lives and go the extra mile to develop "a heart of excellence" to justify the confidence and investments made in them by their parents. "Always remember that you came to the University alone and at the end of your programme, you will leave alone and if you behave yourselves properly you may even find your life partner", Professor Ephraim stated. He expressed the University's gratitude to parents of the matriculants for having confidence in the institution and asked for God's blessings on them "for making such wonderful investments in your wards".

Professor Ephraim said the University was matching the significant increases in the student enrolment with academic staff hiring, and infrastructure development projects with support from the Catholic Bishops Conference.

"The University is additionally grateful to the National Investment Bank (NIB) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) "for being trustworthy and dependable partners", the Vice Chancellor added.

Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University who presided said the Catholic Church had through the ages put premium on education and this inspired the Catholic Bishops Conference to conceive the idea of establishing the University in 1997.

He urged the students to have the vision of the founding fathers and strive use the knowledge acquired at the university to transform themselves and the society.

"As students in a Catholic institution, you must place God at the centre of your lives and realize that you cannot do without Christ who is 'the Way, the Truth and the Life'. You must also seek to understand your faith whether it is Christian or non-Christian", the Catholic Bishop of Konongo-Mampong added.

The Students Representative Council at the University launched a development fund to provide adequate security, means of transport and amenities including a canteen on campus.