Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, Member of Parliament for Manhyia South and Minister of Energy
THE UNIVERSITY of Cape Coast (UCC) has honoured Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh aka ‘Napo’, with a Degree of Doctor of Educational Leadership (DEL), Honoris Causa during a Special Congregation at the UCC campus on Saturday.
The enviable award was bestowed on Napo, who is a former Education Minister, for working tirelessly for ensuring the smooth introduction of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy in 2017, and also advocating for positive educational reforms in the country.
In a citation, the UCC also heaped praises on Napo, for his exceptional roles in the establishment of the UCC Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) as a UNESCO Category II Institute of Excellence in West Africa.
“Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the University of Cape Coast salutes you for your visionary leadership in transformative education, your foresight, your role in the implementation of landmark free Senior High School Education, and your exceptional interventions towards the establishment of the University of Cape Coast IEPA UNESCO Category II Institute of Excellence in West Africa.
“Exceptional and outstanding educational leader, advocate of educational reforms, medical practitioner, highly experienced politician, please step forward to receive your Degree of Doctor of Educational Leadership (DEL), Honoris Causa”, part of the long citation, read.
The citation also highlighted Napo’s outstanding performances and landmark successes in, virtually, all the areas that he has worked, including politics, the medical field and the energy ministry, just to mention a few.
According to the citation, Napo, who doubles as the MP for Manhyia South Constituency, has “kept the lights on” ever since he was appointed as the Minister of Energy, after excelling in the Education Ministry.
It also said, Napo’s commitment to educational reforms has reflected in the Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) sub sector, adding that Napo’s positive works in public life has attracted top awards and honours to him already.
As a reminder, the UCC Degree of Doctor of Educational Leadership (DEL), Honoris Causa, which was presented to Napo, has increased to three, the number of honorary degrees that Napo has received from top universities in the country during the last two years.
In May 2021, Napo received a Honourary Doctor of Letters Degree from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) for his outstanding and transformational leadership in the educational sector of Ghana.
He also received an Honourary Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) from the University of Professional Studies and Administration (UPSA), Ghana in July 2021.
Napo has also, over the years, received several topnotch awards both in Ghana and abroad, including the 2020 recipient of the Harvard Ministerial Medal of Achievement in recognition of his outstanding works towards strengthening public education in Ghana.
In 2022, Napo was also honoured at the Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards as he was named as Ghana’s Best Minister in the year under review.
In the same year, Napo, whose name has become synonymous with enviable awards, was also recognized for his outstanding leadership among the leading energy stakeholders towards the transformation of the sector.
Top chiefs from Asanteman, CEO’s, Ministers, NPP executives from Manhyia South Constituency, Napo’s family members and friends as well as officials of the Energy Ministry attended Saturday’s ceremony at the UCC campus.
Meanwhile, six other distinguished personalities including Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensaim VI, Dr. K.K. Sarpong, Prof. Harold Stewart Amonoo-Koufi, Dr. Deborah Rose, Dr. Yaw Adu-Agyei Gyamfi and Prof. Daniel Asua Wubah were also honoured by the UCC on Saturday.
