VC SUGGESTS JOINT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (PAGE 23, JULY 28, 2010)

THE Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Haruna Yakubu has suggested the formation of a joint committee by the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) and the UDS.
Such a committee, he said, could help address the development challenges facing the metropolis.
Prof. Yakubu made the suggestion during an interaction with the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Alhaji Abdulai Haruna Friday.
The interaction enabled the vice chancellor to introduce himself to the MCE. He was accompanied by the acting Registrar of the UDS, Mr. Sylvester Kuu-ire and the Director of Works and Physical Development of the UDS, Mr. Ambrose Tee.
Prof. Yakubu stated that development and tourism committees could be set up to help address the development challenges of the metropolis, as well as, attract tourists and investors into the area.
He observed that the committees when formed could make recommendations as to how to address the development challenges facing the Metropolis.
The vice chancellor equally observed that the sprawling metropolis was developing as a big marketing centre without massive development of residential areas.
He entreated the authorities at the TaMA to see the UDS as part of the metropolis and help come out with programmes that would enhance its development.
Prof. Yakubu stressed the need for the provision of electricity and other basic social amenities to university and its catchment areas.
“The UDS faces some challenges, including inadequate infrastructure such as access roads to open up the university”,the vice chancellor pointed out.
He further urged the MCE to help facilitate the construction of seven kilometres of access roads and provide 50 electric poles to enhance academic work at its central campus.
Prof. Yakubu observed, for instance, that although dormitories had been provided to support medical students of the UDS, the lack of access roads to link up the dormitories to the central administration of the UDS was one of the challenges facing both students and university authorities.
Alhaji Haruna for his part noted that the UDS and the TaMA were development partners and hoped such relationship would lead to the cross fertilisation of ideas towards the accelerated development of the metropolis.
According to the MCE, education was one tool that could be used to eradicate poverty in most suburbs of the metropolis.
“The assembly is looking at ways of bringing together institutions to accelerate development in the metropolis” he stated.