President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo expressed his profound gratitude and privilege on receiving his fifth honorary doctorate degree from Valley View University on Sunday, July 14th, 2024.
The President noted that this honor recognizes his dedication and aligns with the collective aspirations and values that the citizens of this great nation hold dear for its future.
“This prestigious recognition filled him with profound gratitude and humility. I was inspired by the confidence Valley View University showed in me through this conferment, and I assured everyone that I would continue to uphold the principles of integrity, justice, and compassion that this esteemed institution embodies”.
“Valley View University has played a significant role in the growth and development of private tertiary education in Ghana. As the first private university in the country to receive a charter, it set a benchmark for excellence and innovation in higher education. This milestone was achieved under the leadership of the first NPP President of the 4th Republic, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, marking a significant turning point in the history of tertiary education in Ghana”.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Moreover, President Akufo-Addo pointed out that his administration has consistently supported the development of private tertiary institutions, having granted charters to seven private universities since 2017.
He explained that this effort aims to foster a vibrant and competitive higher education ecosystem that adapts to the changing demands of the education community.
President Akufo-Addo also emphasized that education has been a central pillar of his administration’s priorities, as evident in the successful implementation of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program introduced in 2017.
This bold initiative, he asserted, removed financial barriers, enabling over five million Ghanaian children to pursue secondary education.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted that his administration’s dedication to education is evident in the historic budgetary allocations, amounting to GH¢12.88 billion, which demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the sector.
He explained that these budgetary allocations were utilized to enhance infrastructure, procure teaching and learning resources, and fund various educational initiatives that promote academic excellence across all levels of education.
The President emphasized that these initiatives demonstrate his administration’s conviction that education is the foundation upon which national development and prosperity are built.
President Akufo-Addo Urges SDA To Reconsider Voting Abstention
Furthermore, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urged the leadership and members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church to reassess their decision to abstain from voting due to the election’s conflict with the Sabbath as Ghana prepares to head to the polls in December.
He gently urged the church to embrace their civic duty and fulfill their patriotic obligations, reminding them that citizenship comes with a sacred responsibility to participate in shaping the nation’s future.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized that Ghana’s democratic system is a cornerstone of its society, stressing that the right to vote is a solemn responsibility entrusted to every citizen in a democratic nation and a sacred trust that must be exercised with utmost diligence.
The President declared that by casting their ballots, citizens discharge a moral obligation to promote the collective well-being, shaping a fair and just society that embodies our shared principles and values, and thereby fostering a brighter future for all.
“I invoked the admonition of Jesus Christ to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” to emphasize the importance of balancing our civic duties with our spiritual obligations”.
“I urged the Adventist community to explore practical solutions that enable their members to exercise their right to vote without compromising their religious convictions, ensuring that every Ghanaian has the opportunity to shape our nation’s future”.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
As such, the President appealed to all citizens to exercise their civic duty and vote in the December 7th elections, while also admonishing them to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly, avoiding any behavior that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
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