Former President Jerry John Rawlings has declined plans by the Nana Akufo-Addo’s government to name the University of Development Studies after him.
According to a statement from the office of the former President Rawlings, “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”.
Mr. Rawlings’ statement is in reaction to the publication that government has drafted Public Universities Bill which will soon be laid before parliament.
In the proposed bill, four public universities are to be renamed with the University of Development Studies which was an initiative of the then President Rawlings named after him.
But the former President said, “he had a long-standing principle not to have national monuments and facilities named after him”
See the statement below:
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to the Minister of Education to reiterate his position and kindly requested that the re-naming of UDS after him be withdrawn from the Draft Bill to be submitted to Parliament.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.
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsonline.com