Deputy Regional Youth Organizer of the Volta Regional Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Korbla Samlafo has described the scheduled conferment of an honorary doctorate degree on President Akufo Addo by the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) as a mistake which cannot be overlooked.
In an engagement with happyghana.com, the NDC official noted that individuals are awarded for an evident track record of hard work that has been invested into a cause. “We must not give a 100% award to an individual who has done just 20% of the work.”
According to Mr. Samlafo, a probe into the university’s reason to honor the President with such a title, revealed that the President was going to be awarded for his continual efforts in the ongoing China Aid Phase II Project – a project being sponsored by China. “I believe that the school might have made a mistake so by drawing their attention they would do the needful and the truth will just come to bare and allow everything to solemnly go back to normal.” He intimated.
He noted that the reason the project thrived was on account of the unwavering commitment of late former President John Evans Atta Mills and the then NDC government in establishing relations with the Chinese government.
He believes that the university must review their decision to honor the President with such a title and rather honor individuals who have made notable contributions to the progress of the project. “We must be careful in awarding because the award must merit the work done; if there is anything those who have toiled for the establishment of the school and the establishment of relevant projects in that school should be honored before shifting focus to any other people.”
He prompted the government on abandoned projects that need attention in the same institution, stating that proceeding, this conferment will trigger a demonstration and any other legal measure to oppose it. “The road leading to that school and many other projects in the school were started by the NDC but have been abandoned.”
