Rawlings declining renaming of UDS after him no big deal – Education Ministry

The Ministry of Education says it has no problem with the decision by former President Jerry John Rawlings to decline the honour of having the University of Development Studies(UDS) renamed after him.

Ghana’s first President under the Fourth Republic has stated categorically that he does not want the Northern Region based institution named after him because he had a long-standing principle not to have national monuments and facilities named after him.

There are reports of a plan to re-name four universities after eminent Ghanaian personalities including Mr Rawlings as contained in a proposed Universities Bill to be submitted to Parliament.

But a statement issued by the office of Mr Rawlings said: “The former President has since the publication of the details of the new bill to be tabled to Parliament written to the Minister of Education to reiterate his position and kindly requested that the re-naming of UDS after him be withdrawn from the Draft Bill to be submitted to Parliament.”

Commenting on the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, Vicent Assafuah stated that there shouln’t be any splitting of heads over Ex President Jerry John Rawlings decision, adding that his wish will be granted accordingly.

“If ex President Rawlings says he’s not interested in having the university renamed after him, this is a simple matter. This is a draft bill, we just have to take his name from it. The National Commission for Tertiary Education will have a second look at it and expunge his name from it and find a way to rename it. This is not a difficult matter at all.”