The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho will be renamed the Professor John Evans Atta Mills University of Health and Allied Sciences, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced.
“I am happy to announce that the government has decided to name the University of Health and Allied Sciences after the late J.E.A. Mills.
“The continued honour is to recognise his contribution as a statesman, former president, former tax administrator, and an academic of repute,” he announced.
Mr Iddrisu, who disclosed this at the inauguration of the university’s governing council at the ministry in Accra last Wednesday, explained that a bill had been laid before Parliament for the renaming.
Council members
The 16-member council is chaired by a Professor of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Kodzo Gavua and has as members, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Lydia Aziato, five persons nominated by the President made up of Prof. Mark Appiah, Mr Daniel Nii Noi Ashong, Mr Selorm Dey, Prof. Fred Newton Binka and Dr Kenneth Tachi.
Others are a representative from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Dr Edmund Nibeneeh Aalangdong, two elected members of Convocation representing professorial and the non-professorial, Prof. Peter Adatara (Professorial) and Israel Tordzro Agudze (Non-professorial), a representative of the University Teachers Association of Ghana, Dr Felix Kwasi Nyande and a representative of the university branch of the Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana, Jeffrey Nii Otu Larkai.
The rest are a representative of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools Charles Evans Apreku, a representative of the undergraduate students of the university elected by the Students Representative Council, Sefah Michael Debrah a representative of the graduate students of the university elected by the university branch of the Graduate
Students Association, Felix Dolla, and a representative of the alumni of the university, Gabriel Agbanyo.
Mr Iddrisu explained that the renaming of the university was to honour the memory of the late President Mills for his role in the establishment of UHAS and his unwavering commitment to health and education in Ghana.
The minister conveyed President John Mahama’s trust and best wishes to the council members, adding that the President had confidence in their ability to move the university to higher heights.
Challenges
On the bad nature of the roads to the university, Mr Iddrisu gave the assurance that the Ministry of Road had pledged to fix “not just your roads, but university roads.
“Therefore government, through the Minister of Roads, will soon launch an initiative to deal with the infrastructure needs of the country’s institutions of higher learning,” the minister said.
Speaking on uncompleted structures on the campus, Mr Iddrisu gave the assurance that the government would give it the deserved attention in getting them completed.
“I have requested the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to work with you to get those completed as part of this year's GETFund intervention for higher education.
“I'm also aware that your university has an outstanding legacy that GTEC could work with you together with GETFund,” he stated, adding that some minimum allocation was made to support some public universities to deal with those outstanding legacy debts.
Response
Responding, Prof. Gavua gave the assurance that, “We shall work as a team based on mutual trust and respect to build upon what our forebears have left to ensure that Professor J.E.A. Mills University of Health and Allied Sciences does not only become a model, but a leading health institution in Ghana, across Africa, and the world at large.”
