Some 47 African FA Presidents have landed in Accra to witness the conferring of Honorary Doctorate upon leader of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), Ahmad.
The conferment ceremony takes place at 9am prompt on Wednesday April 25.
Ahmad, the President of Africa’s football governing body will receive the award from Accra-based University of Professional Studies (UPSA).
Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be in attendance.
“President Ahmad will address a press conference immediately after the event.
“Some 47 African FA Presidents have also arrived in Ghana to attend the event. And there will be interview opportunities with them,” read a note from the Ghana FA Communications head, Ibrahim Sannie Daara.
Ahmad – the Caf President
He becomes the first major international sports personality to receive the award from the highly-rated university known for promoting industry.
The Malagasy has been widely praised for the major reforms he has undertaken in football in Africa since becoming the president of Caf about one year ago.
The award recognises Ahmad’s commitment to the promotion of the game in Africa and by extension Ghana, a country he has visited twice since winning the election.
The University of Professional Studies said in its letter to Ahmad: “The UPSA Management has nominated you for the award of an honorary Doctorate Degree.”
Ahmad has been credited for switching the Africa’s flagship football competition – Cup of Nations – to June, ending the club-versus-country rows that African players have faced when the competition is played in January in the middle of the European season.
He had also been praised for expanding the tournament to accommodate more countries while providing direct $2.5m financial support for Africa’s five representatives at the World Cup.
Caf’s support for all the federations across Africa has also improved with financial and material support in the form of FieldWiz, an electronic performance and tracking systems for team-sports.
UPSA
The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) is a public university that provides both academic and business professional education in Ghana.
The university was the first and is still the only public institution with the mandate to offer both academic degrees and provide training for higher professional education in Ghana.
The university has a student population of about eleven thousand and three hundred (2016 estimate).
The school has currently been awarded international accreditation for its Business programs.
This award was given by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
