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General News of Monday, 17 December 2001

Source: .

Asantehene Recieves Another Honrary Degree

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Literature on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The conferment is in honour of the Asante king's commitment to the promotion and development of education at all levels and throughout the country.

"It is also in recognition of his efforts at building bridges and promoting links between the university and overseas institutions, his outstanding and exemplary leadership, ambassadorial role in promoting Ghana abroad to attract investors and bringing honour and dignity to the institution of chieftaincy."

A citation read at a special congregation at KNUST in Kumasi stated in part that the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II who defied tradition and was immaculately dressed in a three-piece suit "has gone a long way in supplementing the efforts of central government and the local authorities in delivering of qualitative and quantitative education.

You have demonstrated that today, it is the traditional ruler and the traditional political system, established, tested and refined over hundreds of years, that provides stability and source of justice and wisdom.

It is not without justification that you are respectfully acknowledged as 'King Solomon'."

The honorary doctorate degree in Literature brings to four the awards conferred on him.

Otumfuo had earlier received the Millennium Symons Award from the Association of Commonwealth Universities in recognition of his contribution to education in Ghana.

This was followed by an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Glasgow- UK and another from the University of Maryland and Savana State University- USA.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in an address called for a rethinking of the country's educational system to make it relevant to the needs of the country.

He said, any review of the educational system must address the problems of polytechnic, restructure their course content and structure to enable them play their expected role of producing middle-level human resource for the country.

Present at the ceremony included President Kufuor, Ministers of State, the Diplomatic Corps, academics, students and traditional rulers.