UG to name more buildings after distinguished personalities

The University of Ghana will continue to name its buildings after personalities who have distinguished themselves in various ways in the service of the University and the nation, says Professor Ernest Ayittey, Vice-Chancellor.

Prof Ayittey made this known in his report at the last session of the November graduation ceremony of the University in Accra on Saturday.

He said as part of the 65th anniversary celebrations of the University, a number of buildings have been named after prominent individuals who had contributed immensely to its growth.

They include the Faculty of Law Building, which has been named after the Late President John Evans Atta Mills and Prof Akua Kuenyehia.

He noted that President Mills was instrumental in securing part of the initial funding for the construction of the building, while the project started during Prof Kuenyehiia’s tenure as Dean.

The School of Performing Arts Dance Hall has been named after Prof Mawere Opoku, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Department of Dance Studies and the Ghana Dance Ensemble, and played a pioneering role in the development of formal dance education in Ghana.

The School of Nursing Building is named after Prof Ayodele Akiwumi, the first Ghanaian Head of the Department of Nursing, and the first Ghanaian Prof of Nursing.

She was instrumental in the inception of the nursing programme in the University, and sought partnership towards the construction of the School of Nursing Building.

The Central Science Laboratory is named after Prof Daniel Adzei-Bekoe, a former Vice-Chancellor, who had had a distinguished record of public service, exemplary leadership and contribution to the Faculty of Science and to the University in general.

“The Physics Laboratory Building has been named after Emeritus Prof R.D. Baeta, the first Ghanaian professor of Physics, who has dedicated his life to imparting knowledge in the field of Physics to successive generations of students.

“There are a few more naming ceremonies in the pipeline, and I would like to use this platform to salute all our honourees,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

Mr Ace Anan Ankomah, Managing Partner of Bentse-Enchill, Letsa and Ankomah Legal Firm, who was the guest speaker, said it is brains that develop a nation and not resources, hence the need for the application of research findings to facilitate the process.