President Akufo-Addo was honored to receive his fifth honorary doctorate degree from Valley View University on Sunday, July 14, 2024.
The distinguished distinction made him feel profoundly grateful and humble.
According to the president, he was inspired by Valley View University’s confidence in him through this conferment, and he assured everyone that I would continue to respect the values of integrity, fairness, and compassion that this prestigious institution represents.
“This honor recognized my efforts and highlighted our shared ideals and aspirations for the future of our dear country.
The expansion and advancement of private postsecondary education in Ghana has been greatly aided by Valley View University. Being the nation’s first private university to be granted a charter, it established a standard for quality and creativity in higher learning. This historic achievement, spearheaded by His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, the first NPP President of the 4th Republic, represents a major sea change in the annals of Ghanaian higher education. Since 2017, my administration has presented charters to seven private tertiary schools in an effort to foster a competitive and diversified higher education environment that caters to the changing demands of our society.
One of the main focuses of my administration’s agenda has been education, as demonstrated by the 2017 introduction of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy. With the financial obstacles lifted by this audacious project, nearly five million children in Ghana are now able to pursue secondary education. Unprecedented budgetary allocations of GH¢12.88 billion, which were utilized to support a variety of educational projects that raise the standard of education at all levels, offer teaching and learning materials, and upgrade infrastructure, further demonstrated our commitment to education. These initiatives reaffirmed our conviction that education is the cornerstone of prosperity and success for the country.
I kindly requested that the Seventh-Day Adventist Church’s leadership and members reevaluate
their choice to abstain from the elections since they fell on the Sabbath as the December elections drew near. The right to vote is a sacred trust granted to every citizen of a democratic country, and our democratic process is essential to our society. We have a moral obligation to work for the common good by casting our votes and creating a society that is fair and just and represents our common values.
To underscore the significance of striking a balance between our civic and spiritual responsibilities, I cited Jesus Christ’s instruction to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
“I challenged the Adventist community to look into workable solutions that allow 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 Akufo-Addo said.
BY: APPIANIMAA MERCY
