Africa must learn from past - Veep
Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has noted that Africa needs to learn from its past to be able to make rapid progress and catch up with the rest of the world.
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He acknowledged that Africa had overcome many of the challenges of the immediate post-independence period and achieved admirable development milestones in economic growth and development.
Mr Amissah-Arthur made these observations at a special congregation of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale.
The occasion was used to confer a Honorary Doctorate Degree on the former President of Botswana, Mr Festus Mogae at the weekend. The third batch of 82 UDS wholly-trained medical doctors were awarded their certificates while 58 post graduate students received degrees in their respective disciplines.
Mr Amissah Arthur commended the former president for the visionary and inspiring leadership he provided for his people during his tenure.
“I am therefore immensely grateful to the UDS for capturing this distinguished African so he can share his experiences through its African Leadership lecture series.”
The initiative was instituted by the UDS in May, 2012 to stimulate discussions and contribute to a national and transnational discourse on productive leadership culture that will support and enhance African development.
The first lecture was delivered by the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
In a citation, the UDS described the former Botswana leader as a distinguished personality and peace promoter for development and a believer in democracy.
The Vice President congratulated the new granduants for their achievement and entreated them to see themselves as symbols of hope and instruments of change for the country.
Mr. Amissah Arthur also urged the new doctors and other health practitioners in the country to work hard to save the lives of their patients as contained in the Hippocratic Oath they had sworn instead of monetising the profession.
Mr Mogae assured the UDS of his continuous support to ensure it lived up to expectation.
He expressed gratitude for the honour done him.
The Vice-Chancellor of the UDS, Professor Haruna Yakubu, advised the graduants to be disciplined in their endeavours.
“I urge you to make the university proud through your contribution to national development by being hardworking, innovative, committed and ethical in your future work and leadership roles,” he admonished.
Professor Yakubu expressed appreciation that the university was contributing substantially to the provision of efficient health care to the nation through the training of medical and allied health personnel.
“This shows just how far the UDS has come from its humble beginnings,” he added.
Mrs Fatima Mohammed was adjudged the overall best graduating medical student and also in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
