Maritime University honours former Prez Kufuor
The Board of Governors of the Regional Maritime University (RMU) has conferred honorary doctorate degree on former President John Agyekum Kufuor and two other highly distinguished personalities for their contributions to the university.
The Honorary Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) was presented to former President Kufuor in recognition of his exemplary leadership in elevating the then Regional Maritime Academy (RMA) into a university status in 2007.
The ceremony came off on Saturday at the 13th Congregation of the RMU.
The two other personalities who were honoured in addition to former President Kufuor are President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and Captain Aaron Obeng Turkson, a former Rector of RMU.
Kufuor's citation
A citation accompanying the honour lauded former President Kufuor for his commitment and support to the objectives of the university that sustained the regionalisation of the RMU, making it a Centre of Excellence in Maritime education and training on the African continent and beyond.
“You have distinguished yourself as an astute politician, legislator, statesman and a football enthusiast and administrator who dedicated your entire life to the development of the people of the Republic of Ghana since the second Republic through to the Third Republic and as the second President under the Fourth Republic of Ghana, till present."
"During your leadership, you strengthened and gave impetus to the tenets of democracy, the rule of law, social justice, social and economic government and equal opportunity for all Ghanaians to realise their God-given talents,” the citation read.
Acceptance speech
In his acceptance speech, former President Kufuor commended the RMU for its efforts over the years to become the premier university as far as maritime studies were concerned.
“The work of the university is unique and glad that the RMU has matured over the years to assist the country in providing the needed workforce for the maritime industry,” he said.
Former President Kufuor said as the country continued to discover oil and other minerals, personnel would be needed to make use of the discoveries to the benefit of the economy.
He urged the university to strategically link itself with industry to ensure that students were exposed to practical work before completing their courses.
President remarks
Speaking on behalf of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Minister of Transport, Mr Kwaku Asiamah, congratulated the awardees and the RMU on honouring the distinguished individuals.
He commended former President Kufuor for raising RMU to the current status and making it an icon in maritime education.
“Government will collaborate with the RMU to triple their intake in order to train personnel to boost the maritime industry,” he stated.
RMU chancellor
The Vice Chancellor for the university, Professor Elvis Nyarko, urged the graduating students to apply the knowledge and skills they had acquired over the years to help shape the country's economy, especially within the maritime industry.
“Use the practical aspects of your education to improve upon the standards at your various work places in order to standout in the competitive world,” he stated.
In all, a total of 396 students graduated with bachelor’s degrees and diploma in various fields including 329 bachelors and 67 diplomas.