He said the courses were part of the Institute’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative designed at the undergraduate level to provide holistic development for beneficiaries.

"The programme is not only about developing their brain but designed for the students to relate to the world. It includes a work placement, travels abroad, and community service, among others," he said.

The Institute, in March 2022, launched a GH¢1 billion Endowment Fund to support needy but brilliant students. The fund will also be used to expand the infrastructure of the institution to global standards.

Professor Bonsu said this in Accra at the Institute’s 22nd Congregation ceremony for 784 undergraduate, 806 Masters and five PhD graduates.

The students graduated from the School of Public Service and Governance, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Faculty of Law and Business School.

He announced that the institute’s next academic year would begin in September 2023 for the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination students.

"Excellence and quality are our hallmarks. In the last year, we have embarked on a number of initiatives towards enhanced excellence and these efforts called for discipline on the part of all stakeholders," he said.

Prof Bonsu said the Institute had initiated programmes towards making GIMPA a centre of excellence and ensuring that students were transformed to contribute to national development.

He said, "a monthly newsletter is now sent to students with information about the institute’s activities to improve communication, a student seminar series with captains of industry to ensure that students develop the needed competencies needed in the workplace, and a career guidance unit to support students to facilitate their transition into work."

He said the Dean of Students Office had started working with various companies like MTN, Ghana Standards Authority, and Stanbic Bank to facilitate the placement of students to acquire hands-on experience on the job for their development.

He said plans were underway to expand the Institute’s exchange programmes and include international placement, adding that "all academic programmes are being reviewed to improve value."

The government, he said, had started the construction of a 250-bed hostel on the Institute’s campus and is due to be completed in 2023 to address accommodation challenges.

"We are working to integrate digital solutions into the GIMPA environment through our Enterprise Resource System to facilitate service delivery to its students and all stakeholders," he said.

He said the Institute, in March this year, conferred honorary Doctorate degrees on four distinguished Ghanaian personalities who have contributed to the country’s development. They are Professor Stephen Adei, former Rector of GIMPA, Mr Ernest Bediako Sampong, Founder of Ernest Chemists Limited, Dr Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, a Statesman in Residence at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts, USA and Mrs Grace Amey-Obeng, Medical Aesthetician and Founder of FC Beauty Group Limited.

He advised the students to join the Institute’s Alumni and contribute toward its development.

Ms Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the Member of Parliament, Ayawaso West Wuogon, advised the graduates to bring their experience, energy, and enthusiasm to bear and be competitive in the world of business.

She urged them to continue to pursue higher education, saying “ learning is an attitude and process and not a final destination."

She congratulated them for their efforts in their studies and underscored the importance of tertiary institutions to national development.