Akufo-Addo approves renaming of UPSA

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has backed moves by government to rename the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) after its founder, Nana Opoku Ampomah.

In a special congregation Wednesday to confer an honorary doctorate degree on the Founder, Nana Opoku Ampomah and CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad, in Accra, the President revealed the intentions of government.

“As a sequel to the conferment of an honorary doctorate degree on the founder, I’m happy to announce also that the [Academic] Council of UPSA in accordance with the statutes of the university has taken the decision to rename the university after Nana Opoku Ampomah,” he said.

The president has described the move as an excellent one which he has approved, hoping that Parliament will also do same.

“It is an excellent decision which has received approval of the President of the Republic, so that once a parliamentary process is completed, this university will be called from henceforth Opoku Ampomah University of Professional Studies,” the president added.

Until it assumed a university status in September 2008 following the receipt of a Presidential Charter, the school was called Institute of Professional Studies (IPS).

Opoku Ampomah is believed to have started the school as a private individual, but it was later acquired by the government of Ghana.

A doctorate of business, honoris causa was conferred on Nana Opoku Ampomah, founder and first director of the institution for his contribution to improving education in the country.

CAF President and FIFA Vice President Ahmad Ahmad was also conferred with a doctorate of law, honoris causa for his contribution to promoting football on the African continent.