Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye has said the School Authority is ready for whatever decision that would be taken by the government to name the UDS after late President Jerry John Rawlings.
Speaking to Journalists in Accra after signing a book of condolence opened in memory of the late Rawlings at his Ridge residence, Prof. Ayum Teye said “So if it is coming up at this time, we have already given our blessing and also to say that the $50,000 that was donated (by Rawlings)… was meant to develop the university library and because of that the main library is now named after the former president and if you go there you would see a statue of him in front of the library,” he said.
Meanwhile, a member of the family and former diplomat, Mr. Victor Gbeho, has said “We have quickly checked with her Excellency (Mrs. Agyemang Rawlings) and I have her authority to inform you that the family has never been against this forward-looking suggestion and we would have no objection if your university can achieve that”.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged the Governing Council of the University for Development Studies (UDS) to revisit his proposal to name the university after former President Jerry John Rawlings, who used his World Food Prize money of $50,000 to establish the university.
The President said when he proposed to name the university after him, former President Rawlings had declined the proposal.
“If Rawlings’s sense of modesty probably compelled him to decline such a proposal while he was alive, let the people’s voice now prevail, on his passing, to enable us to put on record: The J. J. Rawlings University for Development Studies,” he proposed on 14th November 2020.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Kofi Atakora
