Re: “University for Development Studies (UDS): is this a University?

Dear Joy FM,

Re: “University for Development Studies (UDS): is this a University?

University indeed and University with Goats and Sheep walking on campus” My attention has been drawn to the above irresponsible comments made by the so called con artist, Ato Kwamina Dadzie and as a past student of the university; I deem it as a responsibility and obligatory to write this rejoinder.

The above statements were made on Monday, 15th November, 2010 edition of the “News Paper Review” show of your station in the morning around 6:30 to 6:45 am. These comments emanated as a result of a news paper publication to the effect that, the former President Rawlings and his Wife were not interested in leading the NDC but were only interested in bettering the living conditions of the people. When the host of the programme mentioned the University for Development Studies (UDS) as one of the achievements of the former President Rawlings in his attempt to better the living conditions of the people of the north, Ato Kwamina Dadzie in his usual annoyingly arrogant manner of rebutting the comment of the host made these disgusting comments. While we cannot prevent him from attacking or expressing his opinions publicly, I wish to state categorically that, he cannot hide under these “artificial canopies” to make such disparaging comments about our great Alma Mater, University for Development Studies (UDS). First of all, my question is, are the students, workers and for that matter the human beings who work on the university`s campuses that are the goats or sheep? This dehumanizing statement need not to be tolerated by all right thinking Ghanaians, especially, the associates of the University. Ato Kwamina Dadzie, your view that UDS is not a university purposely because goats and sheep walk on its campuses is a shame and this cannot stand the test of time because by your own judgment if University of Ghana (UG) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) allow goats and sheep to walk on their campuses, it therefore mean that they are also not a university. Your view that a university is a place where sheep and goats do not walk shows how naïve, ignorant and shallow minded you are. Ato Kwamina Dadzie, may I ask again, is it your Diploma you gained that makes you better than University for Development Studies (UDS) and its associates (students, lecturers and alumni) or because of the Joy FM you work that makes you better than the entire family of UDS or what? To me your pronouncements are ethnocentric in nature with its sole intention of denigrating the entire good people of Northern Ghana, since you have no idea about the culture of the people, and the sociological settings of the Northern Ghana. Please, try to be tolerant and a course in Rural Sociology will be good for you.
For your information UDS products have competed favourably with various students from other Universities and have performed creditably well, therefore, your attempt to bring the hard won reputation of the University into disrepute will not wash. I see this defeatist idea, agenda and propaganda of yours as been based on the Diploma certificate you hold which have manifested in the myopic views you share on important national issues. The above
statement of yours is not only unfortunate and disrespectful but also irresponsible and we as past students will not tolerate any such comments from you, your associates, your cronies and ilk. Ato Kwamina Dadzie, please what type of intellectual dishonesty is this? Try and emancipate yourself from this academic racism. We entreat Joy FM and you to retract the above statement with immediate effect and again render an unqualified apology to the entire “Baobab” family of this great University. While we accept that our university is not fully developed in terms of infrastructure as compared to the likes of University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), among others, the university has proven that with little infrastructure other institutions can still do great things. We as past students are very happy about the achievements of the University in the past 18 years of its existence.
Ato Kwamina Dadzie, your blatant disregard for authorities and your disrespectful attitude towards those in positions make me sick. This attitude of yours making you the only intelligent person in Joy FM is not only comical, but preposterous as it is laughable and also a grave concern to me. This again, has made you a laughing stock among academics and the earlier you put a stop to it the better. By this pronouncement, your integrity if any, that of your family and that of Joy FM have been called to question and it would do you good by embarking on publicity redemption. Ato Kwamina Dadzie, you are an albatross around the neck of Joy FM and shame unto you. Long live UDS, Long live Northern Ghana and Long live Ghana. UDS: Knowledge for Service.

By: OKYERE, Yaw Charles Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Technology University for Development Studies (2003-2007) Master of Philosophy degree in Agricultural Economics University of Ghana (2008-2010)
Email: okyerecharles@gmail.com Tel. +233(0)242379534