Accra, Oct. 19, GNA - Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, on Thursday declared his intention to contest the decision of the Academic Board of the University of Ghana to revoke his Master of Philosophy degree awarded him in 2000.

"I intend to contest the decision of the Academic Board through administrative and legal actions," he said, in a statement he signed in Accra.

He said he would request a review of the decision by the same Academic Board and Council.

Mr Iddrisu said he had referred the official correspondence from the University revoking the degree to his solicitors for the necessary action.

He said he felt "deeply distressed" by the University's decision adding, "I consider the decision of the University a tragic mistake". Mr Iddrisu said he worked "very hard and under very trying conditions from my humble background to have been awarded the degree. "I like to reiterate that I copiously acknowledged all my sources including the said Justice P.D. Anin: Commission of Enquiry Report into Bribery Corruption that I am alleged to have plagiarised. The source is acknowledged in the thesis and in the general bibliography and, therefore, there was no intention to plagiarise."

The thesis was titled "Sociological Study of Bribery and Corruption in the Public Service of Ghana."

Mr Iddrisu said he considered himself "a victim of ill-judgement" by the University of Ghana, adding that the work was largely his own research.

"I take responsibility for the shortcomings in the thesis. I say this not admitting any wilful wrongdoing in writing the thesis." The Academic Board of the University of Ghana announced on Wednesday that it had revoked a Master of Philosophy Degree awarded Mr Iddrisu because of plagiarism.

A statement Mr A.T. Konu, Registrar, signed and made available to 10030700, Hauna Iddrisu, should be revoked on grounds that the thesis presented by the candidate was later found to have contained plagiarized material.

"In accordance with this decision of the Academic Board, the M. Phil Degree awarded to the Mr Haruna Iddrisu in December 2000 and published on 14th May 2001 is hereby revoked."