An old video has resurfaced on social media showing the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament in February 2009 at the Parliament House, where he addressed a controversy surrounding alleged plagiarism in his thesis.

In the video, Iddrisu who had at the time been nominated as the Minister of Communication-designate, shared details of his tertiary educational background, stating that he is a graduate of the University of Ghana.

Haruna Iddrisu's Master's degree revoked?

He defended his thesis, which was alleged to have been plagiarized from Justice Anin’s 1972 Commission of Enquiry report on bribery and corruption.

He said he had properly referenced the authorities used in his thesis, stating that such allegations could not be true.

“… I also began to support my lecturers in teaching social psychology as a Teaching Assistant and then proceeded to the writing of my thesis which was titled ‘Sociological Study of Bribery and Corruption in the Public Service of Ghana.’ Honorable Chairman, I do have a copy of the thesis and I believe that as and when it becomes necessary, my famous or infamous thesis, honorable members may want to appreciate it.

“The thesis made reference to 63 authorities and references, including the very author I am alleged or reported to have plagiarized, that is Justice PD Anin, 1972, Commission of Enquiry report to investigate into bribery and corruption. So, as a matter of fact, my thesis, I do not think that is right for anybody to claim that I appropriated some other person's thesis or some other masters for the purpose of obtaining a Master of Philosophy. I referenced 63 authors, including Justice PD in a report of 1972," he explained.

Background

According to a GhanaWeb report on October 2006, the University of Ghana revoked the Master's Degree in Sociology awarded to the MP for Tamale South.

The report, which cited JOY FM, stated that the Academic Board of the university reportedly found instances of plagiarism in the MP's thesis of the year 2000 with the title: 'Sociological Investigation into Bribery and Corruption in the Public Service of Ghana'.

I'll prove Legon wrong- Haruna Iddrisu

The decision to revoke the MP's degree was reportedly taken after a heated meeting of the academic board. Iddrisu declined to comment, saying that he had not been formally informed of the decision.



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