Following the conferment of his fifth honorary doctorate degree from Valley View University on Sunday, July 14, 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on the Seventh-Day Adventist Church to reconsider its decision to abstain from the upcoming December 7elections.
The decision, based on the elections coinciding with the Sabbath, a Saturday, was highlighted as a point of concern for the president, who emphasized the importance of democratic participation.
Expressing his gratitude Nana Akufo-Addo acknowledged the honour bestowed upon him by Valley View University.
He praised the institution for its role in the advancement of private tertiary education in Ghana, noting its milestone as the first private university in the country to receive a charter.
This achievement, he mentioned, was a significant turning point in Ghana’s educational history and occurred under the leadership of His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor.
The president reflected on his administration’s commitment to education, highlighting the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy initiated in 2017.
This policy enabled over five million Ghanaian children to access secondary education by removing financial barriers.
He also noted the substantial budgetary allocations, totalling GH¢12.88 billion, aimed at improving educational infrastructure, providing teaching and learning materials, and supporting various programs to enhance education quality at all levels.
Turning his focus to the December elections, President Akufo-Addo respectfully urged the Seventh-Day Adventist Church to revisit its decision to abstain from voting.
He underscored the democratic process as fundamental to society and emphasized the right to vote as a sacred trust for every citizen.
By participating in the elections, he argued, citizens fulfil a moral duty to contribute to the common good and build a just and equitable society.
The president invoked the teachings of Jesus Christ to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” stressing the importance of balancing civic responsibilities with spiritual obligations.
He encouraged the Adventist community to find practical solutions that would allow their members to vote without compromising their religious beliefs, ensuring that every Ghanaian has the opportunity to shape the nation’s future.
