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President Akufu-Addo advocates that the University for Development Studies (UDS) be named after the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Addressing UDS parishioners at a graduation ceremony in Tamale, North Region, he said that Mr. Rawlings deserves to be commended for his immense role in establishing the school.
President Akufo-Addo revealed that the former president had previously rejected the offer that the school be named after him.
“He respectfully declined the honor and the offer due to his principle of not having national monuments and facilities named after him.”
“Despite these sentiments and with all due respect for him, I firmly believe that such an honor should be bestowed upon him,” he said.
The rector commended the UDS leadership for their effort in transforming the University from a last resort to one of Ghana’s leading universities.
Former President Rawlings, who was head of state and later president, played a crucial role in establishing the school when he used money from the $ 50,000 World Food Price award as seed money for its foundation.
It has been suggested that the University of Development Studies (UDS) go beyond conferring a Ph.D. on Mr. Rawlings and give the institution his name.
This was after the UDS in October 2013 conferred the honor on the former leader of Ghana for his contribution to the establishment and growth of the university.
In addition to the honorary doctorate, a bronze bust of Mr. Rawlings was erected on one of the university’s campuses to immortalize his role in establishing the institution.
JJ Rawlings passed away on Thursday, November 12 at 10 am.
The 73-year-old man is said to have died after contracting Covid-19 and was rushed to the intensive care unit at Korle-Bu University Hospital in Accra.
The founder of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) was last seen in public on October 19, during the final funeral rites that led to the burial of his mother, Victoria Agbotui.
