A Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has laughed off suggestions that the newly established Ghana Institute of Social Democracy will be shut down because it has not been accredited.

According to the former presidential spokesperson, the Institute needs no accreditation since it is not going to award degrees.

“It is not a degree-awarding institution,” he said, “[neither is it] a diploma-awarding institution. “It is just to pass on knowledge.”

Mr Anyidoho made this known over the weekend on the special edition of New Day broadcast live from the University of Cape Coast, where the New Patriotic Party’s 25th delegates’ conference took place. He was leading NDC’s delegation to deliver the opposition party’s solidarity message.

The Institute was established in 2016 as displayed on its badge but unveiled on August 10 to mark the 25th anniversary of the NDC. Its motto is ‘Freedom, Equality and Solidarity’.

“The primary aim of the Institute is to provide social democratic ideological education, training and equipping the political workforce with abilities and capacities to become active partners in the development of their community, nation, and the continent,” wrote Kofi Kukubor, a member of the Administration Subcommittee of the Institute.

The Institute is expected not only to inculcate social democratic knowledge but also an ideological habit and character.

Mr Anyidoho admits that that is the limit the institute will go and not award degrees or diploma, which would mean a certification from the National Accreditation Board (NAB).