The President of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Ahmad Ahmad has been awarded an honorary doctorate by one of Ghana’s leading universities.

The leader of Africa’s football governing body was presented with the award by the University of Professional Studies (USPA).

The ceremony which took place on Wednesday saw Ahmad becoming the first major international sports personality to receive the award from the highly-rated university. 

The award recognizes Ahmad’s commitment to the promotion of the game in Africa and by extension Ghana.

Ahmad has been credited for switching 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.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Abednego Amartey said the university was honoured to present the award to the former Madagascar minister of state.

''Particularly, we are substantially aware of the positive impact you have made in football arena both in Ghana and international,'' Prof Amartey said.

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 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).