The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, has delivered a stirring call to action to graduates of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), urging them to rise above the moral decay that has become normalised in society.
Addressing the second session of the 9th Congregation of UHAS in Ho on Friday, Dr. Sodzi-Tettey, a celebrated physician and health systems expert, delivered what he described as “a few reflections” under the provocative title: “A Paragon Within Normalised Systemic Decay.”
“To be a paragon,” he said, “is to be a model of excellence. But how does one maintain that standard in a society where lateness, cheating, laziness, and corruption have been normalised?”
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey illustrated his message with raw and relatable anecdotes:
A colleague who was expected only to report to work on time and avoid performing unauthorized abortions — in a setting where both were widely accepted practices.
A student who felt compelled to remind her lecturer she had passed her exams “with her own brains” — in a context where cheating was routine.
A 16-year-old whose ambition was simply to “get rich and relax” — exemplifying the growing embrace of ease over effort.
A Ghanaian doctor who absconded to the United States after duping a friend in a car deal — now facing possible arrest upon return.
“These are not isolated incidents,” Dr. Sodzi-Tettey cautioned. “They reflect a system that is decaying, and worse still, one in which that decay has become normalized.”
He challenged the graduating class to choose a different path. “You will always be faced with choices,” he warned. “Will you take the difficult road guided by values and principles, or the easy road that promises quick success but compromises your integrity?”
He urged graduates to embody excellence in all aspects of their lives — being punctual, responsible, and congruent in thought, speech, and action.
“Be the doctor who returns money owed, who keeps their word, and who honors deadlines,” he said. “That is what it means to be a paragon.”
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey also recounted the inspiring journey of a UHAS staff member, affectionately called “Yaa UHAS,” who began as an Assistant Registrar and rose through the ranks to become the Registrar. “Her story is a testimony that it is possible to rise through excellence and integrity.”
He offered five practical suggestions to the graduates:
Recognize the moral battle in everyday life, make a conscious decision to choose the path of integrity, connect with your core purpose and values, build a community of like-minded mentors and peers and take daily actions aligned with your values.
Vaccine Research Collaboration with UHAS
On a more institutional note, Dr. Sodzi-Tettey reaffirmed the National Vaccine Institute’s commitment to deepening partnerships with UHAS, particularly in the area of vaccine research and development.
He revealed that a recent visit to the University’s Vaccine R&D Group by the European Union and GIZ-NVI partners left the team “super impressed” with UHAS’s capacity and innovation.
As a result, initial funding has been mobilized under the PharmaVax Project, financed by the EU and BMZ, to bolster UHAS’s R&D capabilities.
“This partnership is vital,” he said. “While Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing will initially focus on established vaccines, the development of new vaccines against emerging pathogens is where UHAS’s research excellence will be most needed.”
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey emphasized that ongoing discussions with international partners under the Team Europe support initiative aim to further strengthen UHAS’s capacity and utilize its human resource base to support institutions across the country.
“We are hopeful,” he said, “that the brilliant minds trained and nurtured here will not only serve Ghana but contribute to global health security.”
A Call to Purpose
The National Vaccine Institute CEO ended his address with a heartfelt plea: “Distinguish yourself. Choose the more excellent path. In a world where moral shortcuts are commonplace, be the model of excellence — the paragon Ghana desperately needs.”
The ceremony was attended by university officials, faculty, students, and distinguished guests, all of whom received the message with resounding applause.
Source: Ivy Priscilla Setordjie