VALLEY View University (VVU) on Sunday conferred an honorary doctorate degrees on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and two others at its 31st congregation held on its campus at Oyibi in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.
A citation accompanying the conferment of the degree on President Akufo-Addo cited his contribution to education and socio-economic development in Ghana and the sub-region as well as his unwavering desire to build an educated populace in the country.
The other two awardees, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Svani Group, Mr Thomas Svanikier, and the Managing Director of Goil Oil Marketing Company, Kwame Osei-Prempeh were recognised for their exemplary leadership and for playing several roles in their respective endeavours to enhance the cause of humanity.
Addressing the congregation, President Akufo-Addo expressed profound gratitude and humility for the honour done him.
“It is with considerable gratitude and sincere humility that I appear before you today, honoured to receive this prestigious honorary doctorate from Valley View University,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo said his government had made a lot of strides in the education sector following its prioritisation as the cornerstone of his government’s agenda.
He said a number of policies and programmes had been implemented over the past seven years with the sole aim of transforming the educational landscape in the country.
The President noted that one of the most notable achievements of his administration was the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, launched in 2017.
He said the initiative was at removing financial barriers that previously prevented many young Ghanaians from continuing their education beyond junior high school, stressing that “education has been a cornerstone of my administration’s agenda.”
The Free SHS policy according to him, had enabled over five million Ghanaian children to pursue secondary education, with a record of high enrolment of 503,000 students just for this year.
He said about GH¢12.88 billion had been allocated to education and these funds had been used to improve infrastructure, provide teaching and learning materials, and support various educational programs that enhance the quality of education at all levels.
“Our attachment to education is further reflected in the unprecedented budgetary allocations we have made to the sector,” the President said.
He explained that in addition to the Free SHS policy government was making efforts to support tertiary education citing the “No Guarantor” policy under the Student Loan Trust Fund as one of the supports offered student which had significantly increased access to higher education in the country.
President Akufo-Addo said his government had decided to establish four new universities in Mampong, Akrodie, Bunso, and Kintampo, in addition to expanding facilities in existing ones.
“These initiatives are part of the government’s strategy to achieve a 40 per ent Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio by 2030, up from the current 18.84 per cent. The educational reforms carried out by the Akufo-Addo government have also encompassed tertiary education, materially advancing access, infrastructure development, and STEM initiatives across the country,” he emphasised.
President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed his commitment to making education a cornerstone of national development.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
