UCC confers honorary degrees on K. B Asante, others

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Thursday conferred honorary doctorate degrees on three distinguished personalities for their venerable service to the University, the nation and humanity.

They were Mr. Kwaku Baprui (K. B) Asante, Ghanaian Statesman, retired Diplomat and writer, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku- Agyeman, Minister of Education and Mr. Joseph Okine- Afrane, Deputy Managing Director of Prudential Bank Limited.

Mr. Asante, a former secretary to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s First President, and Prof. Opoku-Agyeman, a former Vice Chancellor of UCC, were awarded Doctors of Letters (D.Litt.), Honoris Causa, while Mr. Okine-Afrane, an alumnus of UCC, received Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Honoris Causa.

This brings to 37, the number of personalities the University has so far honoured since its institution.

The ceremony climaxed this year’s Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture Series on the theme “Whence Ghana? Whither the Nation?” delivered by Mr. K. B Asante.

In an address prior to the conferment of the degrees, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Domwini D. Kuupole, indicated that the three recipients were selected based on their outstanding qualities.

“They are selfless, humble and through their hard work, have served humankind and impacted positively on the lives of people in the society. The conduct of these personalities is a perfect example of commitment and dedication to duty,” he said about them.

Some of them, he testified, had dedicated the greatest part of their lives, knowledge and energies to the development of the University, adding that, the University wished to continue the tradition of honour for it to be seen as an institution to live and work for.

He said the University recognised excellence in the personalities who through service, academic and professional inputs as well as conduct had made invaluable contribution to human, national, international and professional development.

Delivering an acceptance speech on behalf all recipients, Prof. Opoku-Agyeman expressed gratitude to the University for the distinctive recognition and also their family, friends, students and workers for their various contributions towards their success.

Touching on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which ends this year, she said it made inordinate impact and even though many countries in Africa may not meet many of the targets, the scene would have been much worse without it.

The Minister stated said the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the post 2015 agenda which has 17 goals, encouraged moving beyond meeting basic human needs to promoting dynamic, inclusive and sustainable development.

“They have been described as ambitious; if ambition means to bring succor to the underserved, then so be it. The world must work to achieve them,” she stated.

The recipients were robed and presented citation of honour amidst drum appellations interspersed with applauds and cheers from the members of the University Council, convocation, distinguished personalities, families, friends and workers of the recipients, who filled the auditorium to capacity.