President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is set to receive an honorary doctorate degree in Sorbonne, France.
As part of his six-day working visit to Paris, France after leaving Ghana on Saturday, 8th October, 2022, this will be the third Honorary Doctorate Degree to be conferred on him.
“President Akufo-Addo will on Monday, 10th October 2022, receive an Honorary Award of Doctor Honoris Causa from Sorbonne University in Paris… It will be recalled that the first was an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree conferred on him in May 2016, from the celebrated Fort Hare University of South Africa; and the second, in December 2017, was an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the University of Liberia.”
Presidency
Contained in a statement from the presidency, it revealed that prior to the receipt of the Honorary Doctorate from Sorbonne University, the President will address the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 215th Session.
Whilst in France, President Akufo-Addo will also address the Asia Society Forum on the theme, ‘To Act in Troubled Times: new perspectives from France, Asia, Africa and the world’ and commission the refurbished Chancery building of Ghana’s Embassy in Paris.
“President Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo; the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; the Minister for Education, Hon. Yaw Osei Adutwum, MP for Bosumtwe; and by officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.”
Presidency
The President will return to Ghana on Friday, 14th October, 2022, and in his absence the Vice-President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the constitution, act in his stead.
President honoured at UCC
President Akufo-Addo, over the years, has received quite a number of honorary degrees from various universities across the world. It will be recalled that the University of Cape Coast (UCC) conferred an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership degree on him at a special congregation held in his honour in May last year.
The honorary degree, which is the highest honour given by the University, is in recognition of the President’s immense contribution to education in the country.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the second President of Ghana after former President John Agyekum Kufuor, and the 40th outstanding personality to receive an honorary degree from the University of Cape Coast.
The Chancellor of UCC, Dr. Sir Samuel E. Jonah, explained that the Free Senior High School (SHS) Policy, was a major criterion for the selection of the President for the honorary degree. He noted that the policy has expanded access to Senior High School and paved the way for many young Ghanaians who otherwise would not had been able to afford SHS education to gain access into Senior High School.
Aside the Free SHS policy, the Chancellor noted that there were many other achievements by the President which contributed to his selection for the University’s highest honour.
The Chancellor noted that since the attainment of a full university status in 1972, UCC had sought to identify and award outstanding personalities.
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