Young Bissa lady Ali-Wuntah Joana brought pride to her family and the entire Bissa fraternity as she was awarded top academic honours at the graduation ceremony at the University of Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, on Saturday, November 18th, taking home two special awards in a momentous celebration of her academic achievements.
At the 24th graduation ceremony held on Saturday, November 18, at the Dungu Campus in Tamale, Joana, a student of Social Change Communication, broke the ceiling to emerge as the Overall Best Graduating Student of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies as well as the Best Graduating Female from the same faculty for the 2023 year group.
She was one of just four students to have graduated with first-class honours out of 54 students in the faculty.
It was a moment of pride for the Wunta family as she was joined at the graduation event by her proud family and several close friends at the Dungu Campus to witness the final ceremony that marked the end of her four years of academic excellence at the university.
And it was an emotional moment for family members as they watched their daughter—the last in their family to graduate from university—be honoured with the faculty’s top awards.
They were moved to tears as Joana stepped on the stage to accept the Dean’s Award of Excellence plaque for both categories.
Ali-Wuntah Joana’s journey towards this remarkable accomplishment has been one marked by dedication, perseverance, and intellectual prowess.
Born in Nalerigu to Me Ali Sinya, Joana enrolled at UDS in 2019 after completing senior high school St. Francis girls in Jirapa
She undertook a competitive admissions process to gain entrance to the prestigious communications faculty.
In her four years at UDS, Joana maintained excellent grades across her coursework. She was active in several university clubs and volunteer programmes. Her lecturers described her as a brilliant, dedicated student who demonstrated passion for social change communications.
Throughout her studies, Joana excelled in courses on media writing, strategic communications, radio production, and video editing. She served as a tutor to junior students and headed the university’s student radio station.
Joana intends to pursue a media career focused on educational content after graduating from UDS. She aims to create engaging programmes and publications for Ghanaian youth.
The accolade of Best Graduating Female from the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies further exemplified Ali-Wuntah Joana’s outstanding capabilities. Not only did she excel academically, but she also embodied resilience, leadership, and a strong work ethic that inspired her fellow female students. Her achievements serve as an inspiration to young women, encouraging them to pursue their dreams with unfaltering determination.
Joana expressed gratitude to her family for supporting her academic journey. She dedicated the awards to her mother, who inspired her educational pursuits.
Ali-Wuntah Joana expressed heartfelt gratitude to her lecturers and friends for their unwavering support throughout her academic journey, acknowledging the impact they had on her success and noting that their encouragement and guidance were instrumental in shaping her into the accomplished individual she is today.