UDS in financial constraints

The Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Profor Haruna Yakubu, says for the past years the university has coped with gross underfunding challenges.

He said UDS, being a public institution, the main source of funds is the government but government’s subvention to the university has been inadequate and unable to meet infrastructure needs and running cost of the university.

This has forced the university to institute strict financial control measures aimed at ensuring judicious use of the limited funds available.

Professor Yakubu raised the concern at the 15th congregation of the Wa Campus of the UDS in Wa on Saturday.

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur was present.

The Vice Chancellor said the limited funding imposed a heavy burden on the UDS which has to raise about 60 per cent of the recurrent budget and expenditure on its own.

Professor Yakubu therefore appealed to the government to improve the financial support given to the university to enable UDS to promote more in staff development and research.

Prof Yakubu also expressed concern about the safety of staff and students on the campus, recalling the loss of a faculty member and two students on the Wa Campus, all through gas explosions.

He said UDS at present was trying to light up the campuses and increase security presence to ward off criminals who attack some of the students.

He said the University had been in negotiations with Northern, Upper West and Upper East Regional Police Commands to assist and provide night police patrols and other security services onthe campuses of UDS.

Talking about issues of corruption facing Ghana, Professor Yakubu said government alone could not fight it, saying “It is the responsibility of all Ghanaians to fight the canker”.

He called for a change in attitude by Ghanaians and the courage to expose persons involved in corruption, while strengthening state agencies that have the responsibility to deal with corruption and anti-social behaviour and acts.

“Swift, punitive and decisive actions to curb cases of corruption are a sure way of tackling the issues”, Professor Yakubu pointed out.

Professor Yakubu said corruption had become one great obstacle to the collective efforts at development, and that it was mandatory for all to channel their collective will, resources and efforts to fighting it devoid of partisan politics.

He urged Ghanaians to work at fighting corruption not only by talking about it but supporting every effort aimed at checking it.