UEW Celebrates Dedication and Legacy at 2025 Retirees’ Send-Off Party
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) on Friday, 26th September 2025, honoured 32 distinguished staff members at a farewell party held at the SEMSA Club House, North Campus.
The event, organised by Management, celebrated the dedicated service and lasting contributions of the 2025 retirees, consisting of 14 Senior Members, six Senior Staff and 12 Junior Staff who have shaped the University’s growth and reputation over the years.
The ceremony attracted Management members, faculty, staff, retirees and their families. It offered a chance to reflect on the sacrifices and achievements of the honourees while reaffirming the University’s continued support for its retired community.
In his farewell address, Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor, described the occasion as both “sweet” and “bitter.” “Sweet because we are proud of you. Bitter because saying goodbye is never easy,” he told the retirees. Some of the honourees, he noted, had dedicated more than three decades of their lives to UEW with 18 serving over 20 years and even the shortest service spanning a decade. “That is not just work; that is love, loyalty and legacy,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.
Prof. Mitchual paid tribute to the daily dedication of the retirees, recalling the words of a teacher who once said what they would miss most in retirement was “the sound of footsteps in the corridor at 7 a.m. — it meant another day to shape lives.” He assured the departing staff that their service had left an indelible mark on the institution. “Your offices, your departments, this entire campus — will feel emptier without your presence. But your legacy remains and we are better because you passed through here,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor also reminded the gathering that retirement was not an end but a transition. “Retirement is not about slowing down; it is about shifting gears; it is not about counting the years behind you but making the years ahead count and it is not about leaving work but discovering new purpose,” he stressed.
Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah, Acting Registrar, expressed Management’s pride and gratitude on behalf of the University. “Today, we doff our hats to you for all the hard work that you have done over the years,” she said. She described the farewell party as “a great occasion to reflect on the past, pay tribute to all retirees’ legacies and look forward to the future of both the retirees and the institution.” She noted that 10 of the retirees had served UEW for between 30 and 34 years, 18 for more than 20 years and five for over 10 years, including one casual staff.
She praised their resilience in overcoming challenges in teaching, research, administration and support services, and acknowledged the vital role played by their families and loved ones. “Your efforts have not gone unnoticed but are truly valued,” she said. Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah encouraged the retirees to stay connected with the University community through the UEW Retirees Association and other forms of engagement. “We recommend networking among retirees, current faculty, staff and administration such that these connections will benefit both the retirees and the University,” she added.
Representing the 2025 retirees, Prof. Yaw Sekyi-Baidoo thanked the Vice-Chancellor and Management for organising what he called “a special occasion” to honour their service. With humour and candour, he reflected on the inevitability of retirement. “Those of us who are not retired will be tired one day,” he said, noting that while active staff often see retirement as distant, “very soon, all of us will also be gone from here.”
Prof. Sekyi-Baidoo called for stronger engagement between departments and retired staff, observing that many retirees living in Winneba were seldom invited to departmental events despite their wealth of experience. “It is important, therefore, that at the time that we leave here, we create good memories for ourselves and other people,” he urged, adding that education should be “a war against imperfection” and that UEW must continue to foster a culture of respect and inclusion.
Mr. Isaac Issahaku Al-Hassan, Chairman of the UEW Retirees Association, formally welcomed the new retirees into what he described as “another phase of your life.” Dispelling common misconceptions about retirement, he said, “Mostly people think that when you are retiring, the government is telling you to go home and die. That is not true; retirement is not going home to die but it is another phase of your life.”
He invited all retirees to participate actively in the Association’s monthly meetings, held on the third Wednesday of every month at the SEMSA Club House. “We get people to come, resource persons to come and talk to us on how we should make it during retirement,” he explained, urging the new members not to be “lazy about it” but to contribute meaningfully to the platform.
Mr. Al-Hassan commended Management for its support to retirees, citing the provision of an office at the Pecku Building and plans for a wellness centre. He appealed for swift processing of medical claims to ease stress on retirees adjusting to new financial realities. The lively ceremony was filled with applause, laughter and expressions of gratitude as colleagues and family members celebrated the honourees.
By the end of the event, it was clear that the send-off was not only a farewell but also a reaffirmation of UEW’s enduring values of service, community and mutual support. Through heartfelt speeches and warm tributes, the 2025 Retirees’ Send-Off Party highlighted UEW’s recognition of the devotion and legacy of its staff, reinforcing the message that retirement is not an end but a new beginning filled with opportunities for purpose, connection and continued contribution.
