UDS Act to change if university becomes autonomous

Chiefs in the northern region have been urged to intervene in the ongoing process leading to the conversion of the three campuses of the University for Development Studies (UDS) into autonomous universities.

There is the fear that the conversion of the campuses will definitely lead to an amendment or a possible change of the Act establishing the university.

Raising the concern to the members of the Northern regions house of chief, former Chairman of UDS Governing Council, Dr. Abdulai Salifu says the situation if not looked into might lead to a total change of the mandate of the university which will subsequently defeat the purpose of its establishment.

UDS was established in May 1992 by PNDC Law 279 to blend the academic world with that of the community in order to provide constructive and meaningful interaction between the two for the total Development of Northern Ghana, in particular, and Ghana as whole.

In April, 2015, a committee chaired by Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah to see to the convention of the three campuses of UDS to autonomous universities announced this when some members of the committee paid a courtesy call on Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, Northern Regional Minister at his office.

Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah briefing the Regional Minister about the mission of the committee in the region said there would be the need for amendment of some of the laws and statutes of UDS to pave way for the conversion.

But Dr. Abdulai Salifu thinks tempering with it will make the university lose the mandate of pursuing certain courses which will be injurious to the academic pursuance of the university.

Dr. Abdulai Salifu explained that considering how far the University for Development Studies has come, he thinks the Act of the university should not be tempered with.

Responding to the concerns raised by the Dr. Abdulai Salifu, Kumbun Naa Yiri Abdulai rally the support of the entire house to buy into the idea saying the house would consider the matter in due course.