Ephraim Ayeh Oracca-Tetteh, the visually impaired student who broke UG’s record with 4.0 GPA

Nii Ayitey Brown 13:20 - 21 February 2026

Ephraim Ayeh Oracca-Tetteh

Ephraim Ayeh Oracca-Tetteh, a visually impaired graduate from the University of Ghana, has made history by earning a perfect 4.0 FGPA and emerging as valedictorian at the College of Humanities, breaking a decade-long academic record.

In a remarkable testament to resilience and academic brilliance, Ephraim Ayeh Oracca-Tetteh, a visually impaired graduate from the University of Ghana (UG), has etched his name into the institution’s history books by earning a perfect Final Grade Point Average (FGPA) of 4.00, a milestone unseen at the university in around a decade.

At the Great Hall during UG’s February 2025 congregation ceremonies, the College Registrar, Benedict Ofosu Adjei, announced Ephraim as the Overall Best Graduating Student, prompting prolonged applause from an audience moved by his hard-won achievement.Born and raised in the Ningo-Prampram District of Greater Accra, Ephraim’s academic promise was evident early on.

At St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School, he excelled in Visual Arts, winning a regional visual arts quiz competition before gaining admission to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 2017 to study Painting and Sculpture.

However, his trajectory took a dramatic turn when his eyesight began to deteriorate due to a medical condition, eventually leading to total blindness. Rather than relent, he spent months seeking a way forward, ultimately finding support and training in assistive technologies through the Ghana Blind Union, skills that would later prove pivotal to his success.

Embracing a new academic direction, Ephraim enrolled at the University of Ghana in 2021 to study Political Science, Philosophy & Classics, and Archaeology.

Equipped with screen-reading software, adaptive technology and an unshakeable determination, he adapted his learning methods to excel in courses traditionally reliant on extensive reading and written analysis.

His persistence bore fruit early when he was honoured with the Alumni Prize for Best Level 200 Humanities Student at the 2021/2022 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards, a precursor to even greater acclaim.

On graduation day, Ephraim stood out not only for his academic excellence but also for the inspiration his story carries. Achieving a 4.00 FGPA meant earning an “A” in every course he took, a feat not recorded at UG for at least ten years, according to university records.Ephraim’s journey was shaped by a constellation of support networks.

His family, provided emotional and material support, including essential study equipment. The University’s Centre for Disability Studies and Advocacy converted textbooks into accessible formats, while classmates, transcribers and peers helped him navigate campus life.

Ephraim’s achievement has resonated widely in Ghana and on social media, where congratulatory messages celebrated not just his grade but the courage and resilience it symbolises.

Looking ahead, he hopes to pursue further studies and professional work in philosophy, law, assistive technology and advocacy, fields where he believes he can amplify the voices of persons with disabilities and influence inclusive educational policy.

In a statement that echoes his journey, Ephraim affirmed that “disability is not inability,” a conviction that has inspired a generation of students to rethink the boundaries of possibility

Inspire me