November 18, 2015 – In a short induction ceremony held at the Linda Archer and David Cornfield Courtyard at Ashesi, members of the Class of 2018 pledged to abide by and support the Ashesi Honour Code. The ceremony was organised by the Judicial and Electoral Council of Ashesi’s Student Council, together with the Class of 2018 and the Dean of Students Office. The purpose of the Honour Code is to create an ethical environment for examinations, and by extension, for Ashesi's campus.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ashesi President Dr. Patrick Awuah, congratulated the Class of 2018, and spoke on trust and responsibility as cornerstones of the honor code. “You are taking on a very serious responsibility and we trust that you live up to it,” he said “We are trusting that you will maintain the integrity of your alma mater. We are trusting that you are setting off on a journey of learning to walk with your head held up high. We are trusting that you are beginning a journey of building the habit – starting today – of being responsible, and of honouring trust handed to you.”
The Chairperson of the Judicial and Electoral Council Sedem Banini’16 also emphasised the importance of being responsible leaders, “You have chosen to be the leaders of Ashesi. By doing this you’re living up to the expectations of leaders of this community,” she said “Be that, run with that, be the leaders that you need to be.”
For a class to sign on to the Honour Code, at least two-thirds of that class must vote in the affirmative. The Class of 2018 exceeded this minimum, as some 69% of the Class voted to join the Ashesi Honour Code. With members of the Ashesi community serving as its witnesses, the class went on to collectively pledge to abide by the Honour Code, ensuring that the Honour Code continues to stay strong on campus. The ceremony ended with each member of the class signing on the Honor Pledge scroll, to serve as an indelible endorsement of their decision.
"Today, we chose to sign onto a new way of life; a life of honor and responsibility," said Sabelo Dube. "It is certainly empowering to allow yourself to be held accountable and even more so to hold other people equally accountable. We feel proud to be joining an honorable society, which serves as the model society we all hope to live in. It is also our hope that our honorable acts will ripple through the societies we find ourselves in and enact the change we want to see in Africa."