President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said although the late former President Jerry John Rawlings rejected a move to rename the University of Development Studies (UDS) after him when he was alive, he feels strongly that the time has come for it to be done in his honour after his demise.
It is recalled that in 2019 Mr Rawlings asked the Education Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh to withdraw the aspect of the University Bill that was going to ensure that the UDS was named after him.
But Mr Akufo-Addo at a graduation ceremony at the UDS campus in Tamale on Saturday, November 14, 2020, said he is sure that majority of Ghanaians will back the decision to rename the University after the former Ghanaian leader.
“The immense amount of work undertaken by President Rawlings and his government resulted in the establishment of this university.
“In 2017, I indicated to him through the Minister for Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh my decision to name this university after him.
“He respectfully declined the honour and offer because of his principle not to have national monuments named after him.”
“Notwithstanding these sentiments, and with all due respect to him, it is my strong belief, which I am sure has the backing of the majority of Ghanaians that such an honour be accorded him,” he insisted.
Mr Rawlings died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra on Thursday November 12.
