The Minister for Energy, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has been conferred with an honourary doctorate degree by the University of Education, Winneba, for his services to education whilst Minister of Education during the first term of President Akufo-Addo’s tenure. The immediate past Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, was also honoured similarly.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, Prof. Obeng Mireku, stated that the conferment of honourary degrees by the university its way of honouring men and women, including citizens and non-citizens, for particular roles that they have played in advancing the cause of humanity and disclosed that since its inception as a full university, 22 persons have been conferred with this honour, with the two recipients of the day bringing the number to 24. These include Ghanaian former heads of state H.E. Jerry John Rawlings of blessed memory and H.E John Agyekum Kufuor, former Nigerian President, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, former Principal, and first Vice-Chancellor of the University.
According to a citation read during the ceremony, the achievements of the education sector during Dr. Prempeh’s tenure as Education Minister included the introduction of the flagship Free SHS programme, rolling out of basic school curriculum, huge investments in technical and vocational reforms, upgrading of Colleges of Education from diploma-awarding institutions to degree awarding University Colleges of Education together with several others including legislative and institutional reforms, together with massive infrastructural development at all levels of the education system.
The short but impressive ceremony, which took place on the university’s North campus by way of a special congregation, was attended by the Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Opare, who stood in as Special Guest of Honour for President Akufo-Addo, the Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Justina Marigold Assan and Neenyi Ghartey VII, the Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area, among several other distinguished guests.