The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has honoured former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor for his enormous role in the development of the youth and the overall development of the country.

The group described the founder of the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) as an esteemed personality who has shaped the future of the nation’s youth.

NUGS presented the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana with a citation at his IFS office in Accra Wednesday.

Divine Kwadzodeh, Secretary of the union, stated that the award was instituted to celebrate the  the ‘serious contribution’ by some individuals toward education and public

“So we singled certain very high profile individuals who have served in various capacities of government and have contributed tremendously to the development of this country.

"We realised you are one of such distinguished personalities and so we have the privilege of coming here to acknowledge the impact you have made on the development of the youth and the country,” he stressed.

Excerpts of the citation read, “Prestige citation and award in honour of Dr Kwabena Duffuor. The National Union of Ghana Students on the occasion of its august alumni homecoming awards and handing-over ceremony has contemplated your stellar input in academia, industrial transformation and public service in general.

“The Union has also given overwhelming consideration to your resolute contributions to the economic and financial fortunes of Ghana.”

Dr Duffuor received the citation with an appreciation for the honour stating he was humbled by the gesture.

He praised NUGS for leaning toward the path of a “growing a merit-based society where there is equal opportunity for all by appreciating the efforts of past achievers.”

“The path to excellence as popularly enshrined in our constitution, equal opportunity is a cornerstone of our democratic enterprise. But to be able to achieve that as a nation we have to create and sustain this equal opportunity through education through, through training.

"As soon as we are able to do this, we are creating a merit-based system which alone can move us towards excellence, which you are pursuing,” he said.

He counselled them to keep up the habit of appreciating achievers in society.