Mahama must apologise to Akufo-Addo over honorary doctorates – Nana Akomea

The Third National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, has asked President John Dramani Mahama to apologise to former President Nana Akufo-Addo for his past comments criticising the conferment of honorary degrees on serving presidents.

Mr Akomea says the President’s acceptance of another honorary doctorate from a university in Russia exposes what he considers an inconsistency in the position Mr Mahama previously held on the matter.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Mr Akomea recalled that when Mr Akufo-Addo received honorary awards during his presidency, Mr Mahama questioned the appropriateness of such recognition while a person was still in office.

Read also: President Mahama conferred honorary doctorate by Russia’s RUDN University

He said the then-opposition leader had argued that Mr Akufo-Addo should have waited until after his presidency to allow for a proper assessment of his record before receiving honorary doctorates. Mr Akomea also recalled Mr Mahama’s suggestion that the former president was using the influence of his office to secure such honours from universities.

However, Mr Akomea noted that President Mahama, who has been in office for less than two years, had himself received three or four honorary doctorates, including the latest recognition in Russia.

Expressing mixed feelings about the latest award, he said he was happy for President Mahama but considered his acceptance of the honour inconsistent with the criticism he had directed at his predecessor.

“For the sake of his Integrity, President Mahama owes President Akufo-Addo an unqualified apology on this matter of honorary awards,” he wrote.

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