Rawlings rejects decision to rename UDS after him

• Posted on April 9, 2019
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

Former President John Jerry Rawlings has declined government’s offer to rename the University of Development Studies (UDS) in the Upper West region after him.

The request to rename the university after the former military dictator was made known in the new Public Universities draft bill.

Other universities to be renamed include Legon-based University of Professional Studies to be renamed after its founder, Nana Opoku Ampomah.

Former United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and Convention People’s Party (CPP) member, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, is honoured with the University of Health and Allied Sciences, located in the  Volta Region, where he hails from.

Lastly, the University of Energy and Natural Resources would be known as Kofi Abrefa Busia University of Energy and Natural Resources; in honour of the second Prime Minister of Ghana.

But in a statement, the former President said he declined the offer to have UDS renamed after him because of his long-standing principle not to have national monuments and facilities named after him.

The former President also disclosed that in November 2015 when the then government of the day offered to name the Offshore Cape Three Points Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel after him he turned down the offer as well.

Below is the full statement

RE: UDS TO BE NAMED AFTER RAWLINGS

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has taken note of publications in the media on a proposed Universities Bill to be submitted to Parliament.

The former President has taken particular note of the plan to re-name four universities after eminent Ghanaian personalities, including the naming of the University of Development Studies (UDS) after him.

When the proposal for the naming of the UDS was first brought to the former President’s attention by the Education Minister in 2017, he thanked the President and the government for the honour, but politely declined the offer because he had a long-standing principle not to have national monuments and facilities named after him.

Indeed in November 2015 when the then government of the day offered to name the Offshore Cape Three Points Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel after him he turned down the offer as well.

The former President has since the publication of the details of the new bill to be tabled to Parliament written to the Minister of Education to reiterate his position and kindly requested that the re-naming of UDS after him be withdrawn from the Draft Bill to be submitted to Parliament.

The former President once again thanks the President and all those who in diverse ways are keen on recognizing his contribution to the development of Education in the country.

Issued By:

Kobina Andoh Amoakwa
(Communications Directorate)