Annan Fingers Ghana's Problems

The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Mr. Kofi Annan, has declared that what should be of concern to all Ghanaians is how to ensure that poverty, disease and hunger are eliminated from die society.

According to Mr. Annan, having travelled in Northern Ghana for the last four days, "the most courageous people we have met are the poor men and women who are struggling to care for their families, to make sure that there is enough water for the family, to make sure that there is food on the table."

He was happy that the University for Development Studies (UDS) is contributing to the overriding mission of the United Nations in the 2lst Century as expressed in the Millennium Development goals, from poverty alleviation to protection of the environment to the empowerment of people, especially women and girls.

The Secretary-General expressed these sentiments at a special congregation of the UDS to honour him with a Doctorate Degree held at the Nyankpala Campus on last week.

He was robed in an academic gown made out of the Northern "Smock," the first of its kind, which is to become the regalia for the UDS.

In addition, the Academic Board and Council of UDS decided that the Chair of the ultimate head of UDS - CHANCELLOR - be left vacant until after Mr. Annan has successfully ended his tour of duty at the UN to occupy the position as the first Chancellor.

The Secretary-General thanked the UDS for the great honour bestowed on him and for the opportunity to witness what he termed as the "UDS experience."

"Ever since the University for Development Studies was established 10 years ago, I have wanted to see at first hand the pioneering work you have been doing here," he told the large gathering including Ministers of State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, members of sister universities, chiefs and elders who attended the Congregation.

According to Mr. Annan, he has been impressed by the UDS special blend of academic studies and hands-on field training and experience and moved by the students' interaction with the communities and people that they will go on to help.

"I have become convinced that your approach should serve as an inspiration for all those who work for Africa's development, including especially for us in the United Nations," he said adding: "you deserve every support in your courageous efforts to make the most of human and material resources at your disposal."

Earlier in a speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John B. K. Kaburise, said the UDS is the only university in West Africa devoted to development research and training and it sees itself as a key player in the government of Ghana's Poverty Reduction Strategy.

He said in the pursuit of its mission, the UDS is committed to the pursuit of knowledge for empowerment; that is, knowledge that can be used as an instrument of access to economic opportunity, political participation, educational development and social mobilization.

The Vice-Chancellor mentioned how the UDS has been struggling to meet the challenges of its mission and said the university has survived over the past ten years believing in the Chinese proverb - which says. "that the man who removes a mountain begins by carrying small stones.'

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the University Council, Dr. H.A. Wemah, lamented that the UDS is the only state university to have been started without any seed money, thus infrastructure such as halls of residence, lecture theatres, laboratories, libraries, and lecturers' bungalows have been abysmally slow-depending on highly inadequate annual Government subvention.

Stressing that the distress situation of UDS is not a joking matter, Dr. Wemah said the time has come for Government and all Ghanaians to ask themselves whether they want UDS to exist and thrive as a university and as a sound national investment worth nurturing for the development and good of the country as a whole.

The Chairman of the University Council said in the same manner that the UN Secretary General used his good offices and made conscious personal interventions to maintain the international community's interest and commitment to Africa, he should secure the commitment of the Government of Ghana and other international agencies to the UDS, the most disadvantaged of the country's universities.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, has been enskinned "Malgu-Lana" or Welfare Chief of the World in recognition of his efforts to ensure total international peace.

The honour was conferred on Mr. Annan at a mini durbar organized by the chiefs and people of Nwodua in the Tolon-Kumbungu District of the Northern Region.

The Chief of Nwodua, Baako Azuma, who performed the enskinment, was happy that for the first time in the history of the Nwodua the UN Secretary-General, whom he described as the President of the World, had visited the community.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Annan expressed satisfaction with the self-help initiatives of the people in improving on the socio-economic development of their community.

According to the UN Secretarty-General, he had heard much about the Nwodua community in New York and said even though they have been assisted by the UNDP and UNICEF, such assistance would not have been realized without their commitment.

He noted that since the government alone cannot develop the country, it needs the support and commitment of each and everyone for the socio-economic development of the country.

Present at the ceremony were Mr. Annan's wife, Nane, the acting Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Ernest Debrah, and some UN country representatives, including Mr. Alfred Fawundu.