NPP Defends Akufo-Addo’s UHAS Honorary Doctorate Amidst NDC Criticism

The Volta Region New Patriotic Party (NPP) has debunked claims by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that President Akufo-Addo does not deserve to be honoured by the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS).

According to the Volta Regional NPP Chairman, Makafui Woanya, the Akufo-Addo-led government’s contribution to the development of the University outweighs that of the NDC.

Addressing the media in Ho, he said President Akufo-Addo indeed merits the proposed honorary doctorate, taking into consideration his efforts to enhance the country’s education sector, among others.

The late President John Evans Atta Mills of the NDC proposed and established the UHAS, which was subsequently established in 2011 and began full operations in September 2012.

The University Council in July 2024 announced a decision to confer an Honorary Doctorate on President Akufo-Addo, which did not sit well with the NDC.

The NDC Volta Youth Wing and a group calling itself Concerned Volta Youth claimed those who led and played roles in the establishment of the University, including Chiefs, should be honoured, and not President Akufo-Addo.

Mr. Woanya, however, rubbished the claims, indicating political parties, ethnic groups, or pressure groups have no locus to dictate to an academic institution.

“Since when has it become the business of political parties to determine who qualifies to be nominated for Honorary Awards by public Universities? One would also want to ask when does public institutions become the private property of political parties or the regions in which they are located? Public Universities are built and funded by public resources and the taxpayers’ money, and do not belong to any ethnic group let alone a political party. Otherwise, the Asantehene and Asanteman should lay claim to KNUST, and the Ogua people should take over the University of Cape Coast and determine their internal policies and operations?” he quizzed.

Mr. Woanya stressed that the University has duly honoured the late Prof. Atta Mills' family for his contribution to the establishment and development of UHAS.

“Best to our knowledge, the university has already instituted an Atta Mills Memorial Lecture in honour of the late former President. It is also on record that the wife of the late former President, Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills, was a pioneer recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Award from the same university. Therefore, the posture and threats of the so-called NDC youth wing and their surrogates are not only shameful and condemnable but also a dangerous precedent,” he said.

Mr. Woanyah indicated that a nurse’s flat constructed under the Agyekum Kuffour government was part of the foundation structures used in the early days of the establishment of the University. The Mother and Child facility at the Ho Teaching Hospital, he said, was also used by the University.

He added that the NDC was only able to build an administrative block at the permanent site in Sokode, with the NPP Akufo-Addo-led government adding a laboratory complex, three Lecture Halls and Faculty Offices for the School of Medicine, a storey building for the School of Pharmacy with offices, and the construction of access and inner campus roads, among others.

He said that John Mahama, who succeeded the late President Atta Mills, neglected the infrastructure development of the University and failed to provide counterpart funding for the phase one project. He said if not for the pragmatic efforts of the current government, the Chinese government would not have released money for the phase two expansion project.

“It took the personal interest and commitment of the President and his government to set up an Escrow account and pay in the counterpart funding as a condition precedent for accessing a $60 million loan facility for the phase 2 expansion of UHAS. The Nana Addo government's partnership with the Chinese Government in Phase 2 of UHAS resulted in a $60 million project that included the construction of the central administration complex, the largest School of Nursing and Midwifery in West Africa, and a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art Simulation Centre. The project is expected to increase the University's student capacity by at least 2,500,” he said.

He entreated the public to condemn the "backward, ill-advised and reprehensible" actions of the NDC against the UHAS and its council and urged the security services to deal with miscreants and persons of deviant behaviours, who may want to mar the historic event.

"We wish to assure the University of our solidarity and to urge them to stand by their decision in the exercise of their mandate, independence, and academic freedom," he concluded.

Despite the stiff opposition from the NDC, the University is unshaken and maintains its decision to undertake the conferment of the Honorary Doctorate on President Akufo-Addo on Monday, 29th July 2024.