Mills’ first class degree in dispute

A staunch member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NDC) is daring the President, John Evans Atta Mills, to provide proof that he indeed obtained a first class at the University of Ghana.

Professor Mills had a Bachelor’s Degree and Professional Certificate in Law in 1967 at the University of Ghana. Many reports of the president’s scholastic acumen suggest that he obtained a first class in his undergraduate degree.

Lending credence to that, Deputy Minister of Information Baba Jamal cast aspersion on NPP’s flag-bearer Nana Akufo-Addo, who had a Third Class in the same year at the same university, arguing that Prof. Mills would make a better president than Nana Addo.

But his position has come under intense criticisms, especially from persons who commented on his assertion on myjoyonline.com.

Adding his voice to the avalanche of condemnations on Joy FM’s news analysis programme Newsfile Saturday, Mike Ocquaye Jnr of the NPP averred that incontrovertible information available to him indicated that claims that President Mills had a first class were false.

“Baba Jamal, I put it to you that President Mills did not get a first class. I am reliably informed that he did not get a first class; he got a 2:1, second class upper.”

He therefore challenged Prof Mills and those who hold views contrary to his to provide evidence to support what has widely been publicised.

“So why do you come and lie to Ghanaians that he got a first class,” Mike Ocquaye wondered and demanded: “Go and bring that [first class] certificate and let us see. Now the president’s certificate is going to be the subject of public scrutiny because of the irresponsible statement by Baba Jamal.”

Nevertheless, he pointed out that getting a third class doesn’t make one a less better politician.

“President Rawlings, did he go to university? And now Nana Addo got a third class in economics, a subject he may not have enjoyed in university...Nana Addo therefore switched to law, and since then he has shown the excellence.”

by Isaac Essel / Joy Online