Former President Jerry John Rawlings has turned down offer by the government to name a university after him.
He, therefore, called on the government to withdraw his name from the bill being prepared for Parliament for consideration.
The former president said his decision to decline the offer was because of his long standing principle not to have national monuments and facilities named after him.
“When the proposal for the naming of the UDS was first brought to the former president’s attention by the Education Minister in 2017, he thanked the president and the government for the honour, but politely declined the offer.” A statement from the office of the former president said yesterday noted:
“Indeed in November 2015 when the then government of the day offered to name the Offshore Cape Three Points Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel after him he turned down the offer as well,” it stated.
Furthermore the former President has taken particular note of the plan to re-name four universities after eminent Ghanaian personalities, including the naming of the University for Development Studies (UDS) after him.
The statement said, the former President had since the publication of the details of the new bill to be tabled before Parliament written to the Minister of Education to reiterate his position and kindly requested that the re-naming of UDS after him be withdrawn from the draft bill to be submitted to Parliament.
“The former President once again thanks the President and all those who in diverse ways are keen on recognising his contribution to the development of education in the country,” the statement signed by Communications Director Kobina Andoh Amoakwa, concluded.
BY TIMES REPORTER
