UDS Alumni Remind Government Of Unfulfilled Promises

The Alumni Association of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has firmly reminded the Mills led NDC administration of its 2008 manifesto promise, to expand infrastructural development at the University�s scattered campuses in the three regions of the north. The Association says it has become crucial to serve the reminder because much has not been seen of the promise to a public University which is the most under-resourced in the country. Felix Kofi Abagale, National President of the UDS Alumni Association served the reminder when he addressed the Alumni�s second delegates� congress in Tamale under the theme: �The role of the Alumni in the development of the UDS�. It was attended by members from the ten regions of the country.Mr. Kofi Abagale said it was on record that the NDC�s 2008 campaign manifesto promised to make a special allocation from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund), for the accelerated development of the University for Development Studies. He also recalled the NDC�s promise to establish a School of Allied Health Sciences with a campus in Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo region, which has started. He commended President Mills for his numerous visits to the UDS campuses and pleaded with him to honour an invitation to the UDS forthcoming 12th Congregation which he said no former President had attended since 1992. Mr. Kofi Abagale unveiled the Alumni Association�s development agenda for the UDS, part of which is to contribute towards the establishment of a centre for peace studies in view of the protracted intra ethnic, chieftaincy and land conflicts that have inundated northern Ghana in recent years. He said the Alumni Association also hopes to accomplish the establishment of a faculty in the University to promote the study of indigenous and neglected fruit tree species in northern Ghana which are of economic benefits to the Savannah regions. He therefore urged stakeholders especially the three northern Regional Coordinating Councils and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, to contribute towards the smooth take-off of the Alumni�s earmarked projects. Felix Abagale lauded the UDS Vice Chancellor for his sterling performance since he assumed office in less than a year and pledged the Alumni�s full support to enable him achieve his aim of turning the UDS in a world class tertiary institution. In his key note address, Professor Yakubu Harunah, the Vice Chancellor acknowledged the importance of the Alumni in the University�s development and promised at all times to consult the leadership on issues that will uplift the UDS image. He was optimistic that with the maximum support of the Alumni, the UDS could overcome its many developmental challenges. Professor Harunah announced his administration�s decision to cut down admissions for the year 2011 due to excessive rise in the UDS student population with inadequate infrastructure. He noted that the University�s meagre financial support, greening the campuses, tarring the roads and inadequate staff accommodation were some of the teething problems the UDS is grappling with. Surprisingly, the UDS Wa Campus with over 12,300 students have no Library to assist them in their studies. The UDS Acting Registrar, Dr. A.B.T Zakariah gave an overview of the University�s establishment as far back as 1992 by Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings in accordance with PNDC Law 279. He said the University authority was mandated to run programmes that will effectively and efficiently combine academic work with community-participatory and extension work. The UDS has four campuses scattered all over in the three regions of the north comprising the main Nyankpala campus, Wa, Navrongo and the Tamale City campuses.It has seven faculties including the Faculty of Agriculture and that of Renewable and Natural Resources at Nyankpala, and the Faculties of Applied and Mathematical Sciences in Navrongo. Whereas the Faculties of Integrated Development Studies, Planning and Land Management, Education, Law and Business Studies are in the Wa campus, that of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Graduate School, the Centre for Continuing Education and Inter-Disciplinary Research, the French Language Centre and the ICT Centre are found in Tamale, Navrongo and Wa campuses.