UDS Should Be Named After Rawlings - Prez. Akufo Addo

The President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwar Akufo Addo advocates that the University of Development Studies (UDS) be named after the late former President Jerry John Rawlings. 

In an Address to congregants at a graduation ceremony in Tamale, in the Northern Region of Ghana, he said that the former President deserves to be praised for his immense role in the establishment of the school. 

President Akufo Addo revealed that Mr. Rawlings had earlier declined the offer for the school to be named after him. 

"He respectfully declined the honour and offer because of his principles not to have national moments and facilities named after him." 

"Not withstanding these sentiments and with all due respect to him,it is my strong belief that such and honour should be accorded him," he said. 

The President Raine's praises on the management of UDS for their effort in transforming the University from the last resort to one of the premier Universities in Ghana. 

Former President Rawlings, who was the head of state and later President, played a crucial role in the establishment of the school when he used his prize money from World Food Prize of $50,000 as seed money for its founding. 

There have been suggestions that the University for Development Studies (UDS) goes beyond conferring a Doctorate degree on Mr. Rawlings and name the institution after him. 

This was after UDS in October 2013 conferred the honour on the former Ghanaian leader for contribution towards the establishment and growth of the university. 

In addition to the honorary Doctorate degree,a bronze bust of Mr. Rawlings was erected on one of the campuses of the university to immortalise his role in the establishment of the institution. 

The 73-year-old is said to have died after he contracted Covid-19 and has been at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra,for some days. 

The founder of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) was last seen in public on October 19, during the final funeral rites leading the burial of his mother, Victoria Agbotui.