Cape Coast, (C/R) Sept. 28, GNA – The Chancellor of the University Of Cape Coast, (UCC) Dr Sam Jonah, has asked the country’s universities to place more emphasis on instilling core moral values of leadership in their products.

This, he said, had become necessary because, the present global economic predicament could be attributed to poor leadership, pursuit of parochial interests, greed, and absence of ethical consideration in corporate and political decision making.

Universities should, therefore, help imbibe all virtues needed to shape and mould the characters of corporate and political leaders “to get the world out of the fine mess we find ourselves.”

Dr Jonah was addressing the fifth and final session of the 42nd Congregation of the UCC at the weekend, which saw students of the Faculty of Art, Social Sciences, School of Agriculture and the School of Graduate Studies and Research graduating.

In all, 6,418 graduated with 13 of them receiving degrees for Doctorate Programmes, 365 - Masters, 58 - Post Graduate Certificates, 5,982 - First Degree and 2,370 – Diplomas Certificates.

He expressed concern about the high rate of graduate unemployment, which he said had reached a staggering 700,000 by the Labour Commission’s estimate.

He noted: “The global economy is in turmoil thus affecting the economic stability of nations.”

The Chancellor, however, asked the graduates not to be daunted because in Nelson Mandela’s words: “Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.”

They should, therefore, fashion out their own destiny and not to depend on anybody by being disciplined, committed, resilient, curious, humble and critical thinkers with a sense of balance wherever they found themselves, in order to succeed.

Dr Jonah also asked the graduates to let successful people in the corporate world such as Mr Kofi Amoabeng of UT Bank, Alhaji Assuma Banda of Antrak, Ernest Bediako Sampong of Ernest Chemist, Theresa Oppong of Manet and a host of others, to inspire them to attain greater heights.

Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, Minister of Education, underscored the need for African universities to serve as the primary tool for the development of the continent.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the University Community and the people of Cape Coast as a whole.

The Central Regional Hospital, she said, would become a fully-fledged Teaching Hospital by 2012, while more assistance would be offered to research work to propel national growth.

The Vice Chancellor of UCC, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, said plans were underway for the University to produce bottled water and detergents for sale.

It would also recycle waste paper from the various Departments of the University into useful products like tissue paper to generate more income for the academic institution.