NDC lauds UDS' decision to honour Rawlings

Accra, March 15, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday lauded the decision of the University of Development Studies (UDS) to honour former President Jerry Rawlings with a doctorate degree and criticised attempts to disorganise the ceremony.

In a statement signed by the Acting General Secretary, Mr Bede Ziedeng the NDC said the award would be an honour for the former president, his family and the NDC.


The party said it would completely associate itself with the UDS in the conferment of the doctorate degree on him.


It said it was therefore a matter of concern to the party that attempts were being made in some quarters to disorganise the ceremony for the conferment of the awards under the pretext of security concerns. The award ceremony scheduled for this weekend has been thrown into doubt following a letter written to the former President that it had been put on hold for security reasons. The government has denied any knowledge of the decision to freeze the award ceremony.

The NDC statement said the award would be a tribute to the vision and inspirational leadership of former President Rawlings as well as a credit to the policy of expanding educational opportunities and access pursued under the PNDC and the NDC.


"The former president truly deserves the award for the contributions he has made towards the development of the country." It said that in deciding to confer the award on the former president, the UDS had underscored an important principle in the world of academia of giving credit and praise where it is due.


"We take pride in the fact that in spite of attempts to attack the Rawlings legacy, there are several institutions and millions of well-meaning Ghanaians who will still recognise the very invaluable contributions the former president made to the development of this country as head of state."