The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, has urged accounting and finance graduates to safeguard their professional reputations through ethical conduct, accountability and continuous learning. He gave the advice on Friday, 30 October 2026, at the fourth session of the University’s 18th Congregation, during which 978 students from the Faculty of Accounting and Finance graduated with bachelor’s degrees and diplomas.
Congratulating the graduating class, Professor Mawutor emphasised that their responsibilities would extend beyond technical competence to the careful stewardship of financial resources and the decisions affecting individuals, organisations and society.
“Let integrity be your greatest professional asset. As bankers and finance professionals, you will be entrusted with people’s finances. Your competence may secure you a job, but your integrity will determine how far you go,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor cautioned the graduates against a sense of entitlement, encouraging them to demonstrate responsibility and accountability in their personal and professional lives.
He also urged them to remain grounded in faith in God and to allow reverence for God to guide their conduct. Looking beyond conventional employment, he encouraged them to explore entrepreneurship as a means of creating opportunities for themselves and others and contributing to national development.
Delivering the Congregation Address, the Chief Operating Officer of Next Gen InfraCo Ltd, Mr George Nenyi Andah, described the graduates’ degrees as infrastructure for their future. He challenged them to ensure that their ambitions were supported by sound character.
“Your certificate will open doors for you, but your character will decide whether you stay,” he said.
Mr Andah encouraged the graduates to seize opportunities, build their personal and professional brands deliberately, and approach their careers with conviction and a clear sense of purpose.
“I don’t believe Ghana needs more people with certificates. I believe Ghana needs more people with conviction,” he said, stressing the need for professionals whose qualifications were matched by strong values and a commitment to contributing to society.
The Chairman of the UPSA Governing Council, Dr Harry Lawson Kwaku Agbanu, reminded the graduates that decisions taken by accounting and finance professionals could have far-reaching consequences for organisations and the wider economy.
He therefore urged them to uphold high professional standards and exercise sound judgement. Dr Agbanu affirmed that the University had equipped them with the knowledge, skills and values to excel, encouraging them to apply their training responsibly throughout their careers.
The session celebrated the graduates’ academic achievements while emphasising their responsibility to apply their knowledge with sound judgement and a commitment to serving society.
