By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Oct 27, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Russia University of Transport in Moscow, in recognition of his leadership, public service, and statesmanship.
President Mahama, who is in Moscow for the Russia-Africa Summit, has earlier received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) in Moscow, in recognition of his commitment towards expanding access to education and strengthening Ghana-Russian relations in the area of education and scientific research.
President Mahama in his acceptance remarks at the Russia University of Transport said, he believed that a university had a special responsibility to place knowledge at the service of society.
“It is in that spirit that I gratefully accept this honour from the Russian University of Transport.”
He noted that the occasion also reminded him that leadership must be open to the challenges confronting their country, adding that these demanded curiosity, sound judgement, and a willingness to learn from the experience of others.
He said the investment one sustained in these habits gave a generation the means to build on the achievements of those who came before.
He reiterated that it was particularly meaningful to receive the recognition from an institution devoted to transport.
President Mahama said few fields connected academic knowledge so directly to people’s daily lives; stating that farmers’ harvests gained value because they could be moved from the farm to the market.
“A young person’s prospects improve when reliable transport connects his home to school or work. Businesses can grow and expand when goods move efficiently between production centres, ports and consumers,” the President stated.
He said these were practical concerns in Ghana and across Africa; saying “Our development depends in part on how effectively we connect our communities, expand trade and make economic opportunities accessible to more people”.
President Mahama said transport infrastructure must therefore be planned alongside the industries, settlements and services it was intended to support.
He said the engineers, researchers and transport professionals trained in institutions such as the Russia University of Transport would make a vital contribution, and that their work could help them improve safety, reduce the cost of moving goods, maintain infrastructure, develop transport systems and respond to changing economic and environmental demands.
President Mahama reiterated that transport systems were an important catalyst for development; declaring that throughout history, the pace of progress of nations had been advanced by the great waterways, highways, shipping facilities and aviation.
“In Ghana, we recognise this fact, and we have been investing our resources in modernising our transportation networks. We have built a new port at Tema and have invested in expanding all our other existing port facilities,” he said.
“Under a major programme, we are reconstructing all our major road networks across the country.”
The President said Ghana’s airports were also being expanded, and three new regional airports were being built.
He said new freight trains and the expansion of their railway network were also ongoing.
“And even as I speak, we are working on rebuilding our cherished national airline. It is my hope that before I leave office we will have it back in the air.”
He said all these developments require well-trained human resources with skills and knowledge.
“It is also important to research this sector. This is why institutions like yours, the Russian University of Transport, are important in giving young people specialised knowledge in the transport sector,” the President said.
“My information indicates that there is only one Ghanaian student here, and it is my hope that this visit will increase the number of Ghanaian students. These exchanges will be beneficial to their countries.”
President Mahama said education had long been an important relationship between Ghana and the Russian Federation.
He reiterated that generations of Ghanaians had benefited from studying in Russia, including himself and that while in Russia, they acquired professional skills while building friendships that had endured beyond their years at university.
He underscored the need for them to build on that foundation through partnerships that meet their countries needs – student and faculty exchanges, scholarships, joint research and other forms of cooperation between the Russian University of Transport and Ghanaian counterparts.
GNA.
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade