Government urged to help UDS

Tamale, Sept 20, GNA - Professor Saa-Dittoh, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has appealed to the Government to provide seed money or create an endowment fund for the university to undertake its infrastructure development.

He noted that the UDS was the only university, which was established without any seed money and as a result, it was facing serious official and residential accommodation problem.

Professor Saa-Dittoh made the appeal in Tamale on Tuesday, when Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Chairman of the GETFUND, paid a working visit to the UDS to learn at first hand the challenges facing the university.

He said: "When the UDS was established in 1993 it had a population of only 40 students but it now has about 4,000 students and the provision of facilities has not moved at the pace of students' intake" Professor Saa-Dittoh said because of the prevailing inadequate facilities, the university could not take more than 40 per cent of admissions, and thus denying entry to 60 per cent of the qualified students.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor said: "Although the GETFUND has done a lot to improve the infrastructure development of the university more has to be done, considering the circumstances under which the UDS was established".

Professor Saa-Dittoh reiterated the need for the speedy rehabilitation of the Tamale Teaching Hospital to facilitate the practical training of the medical students of the university instead of spending money to send them to other hospitals in the Southern parts of the country.

He suggested to the GETFUND and the Government to consider offering scholarships to the medical students to go for further studies outside the country.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor complained about the poor drainage system at the Navrongo campus and the lighting system at the Nyankpala campus. Alhaji Mustapha Idris said the UDS was a source of pride not only to the North but the entire country considering the courses offered and the strategic location of the university, which had campuses in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

He asked contractors working on projects in the various campuses to ensure the completion of work on schedule.

The Chairman of GETFUND asked authorities of the UDS to seek funding from other sources for the university's development since the Government alone could not bear the cost..

Alhaji Idris scheduled to visit the Navrongo and Wa campuses of the UDS, inspected on-going projects at the Nyankpala campus.. 20 Sept.05