The University for Development Studies (UDS) has appealed to Government to, as a matter of urgency establish a foundation for the UDS that would be tailored to solve local specific developmental and people centred problems.
This was contained in a communiqué issued by the University after a two-day Universities Developmental seminar organized by the UDS on the theme; "University Research and People Centred Developmental Needs in Ghana.
The communiqué which was copied to the Regional Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies of the three Northern Regions asked them to consciously engage the services of the university in growth and development plans and policies at the district, regional and national level.
It stressed the need for policy makers, including the Regional Ministers in the Northern regions to find time to interact with the University research community at a regular time during the year on issues on the University's role in developing the regions.
The Communiqué said, although the UDS had limited resources, it had carried out a lot of innovative, science and technology research that could contribute significantly to social and economic growth and development of society especially in Northern Ghana.
The Communiqué emphasized that should UDS be given adequate and appropriate infrastructure, including equipment, it would be able to deliver services that could significantly complement Government efforts and that of other institutions in development.
It urged the University Council and the Office of the Vice Chancellor to recognize the role played by lecturers who lead students to the field and their hard work in other areas by promoting them.
The Communiqué was signed by a nineteen-member group, including Mahunu K Gustav , Awuni A Joseph , Gover Richard, Awudu Abubakari, Issifu Hamza, Bayor Jude Simon, Martin Bononu-Ire, Keneth Peligba all of the Faculty of Agricultural.
The rest are Conrad A Weobong, Project Coordinator of UDS and Benjamin Delali Dovie International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Project leader, Longi Felex and Akudugu Mamudu of Centre for Interdisciplinary Research(CCEIR) among others.
Earlier, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the UDS, Professor David Millar, in a speech read for him by Professor Stephen Kendie Director of CCEIR explained that the UDS was very unique in its programmes and said the trimesters programme distinguished it from the other universities.
He indicated that the UDS students as part of the programme were made to stay in communities to identify the communities' problems and help find out the possible solutions to those problems.
He indicated that records from the field indicated that UDS Students were excelling in the job market and most institutions preferred recruiting them.
He appealed to organizations particularly the District Assemblies to use research conducted by the students in their daily activities since it would help them address most of their problem.