Mahama Pledges to Rename SDD-UBIDS

During his campaign tour of the Upper West Region, former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the NDC, made a significant pledge regarding the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS). If elected in the upcoming 2024 general elections, Mahama promises to rename the institution back to its original name, University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS).

Mahama’s remarks were made during a session with the Tertiary Education Institution Network (TEIN), a group of university students affiliated with the NDC. His statement drew attention to the decision by the Akufo-Addo administration to name the university after Simon Diedong Dombo, a political figure who Mahama argues had no direct involvement in the establishment of the institution.

According to the NDC leader, the decision to rename the university was politically motivated, disregarding the individuals who had truly contributed to its founding.

The Origin of UBIDS and NDC’s Vision

John Dramani Mahama emphasized that the SDD-UBIDS was an offshoot of the University for Development Studies (UDS), which was established in 1992 during the tenure of former President Jerry John Rawlings. He explained that Rawlings, who won the World Food Prize, used his $50,000 prize money as seed funding to launch UDS.

The university has since been an institution dedicated to development studies and business education, and it eventually gave birth to UBIDS, the campus located in Wa, which Mahama believes should remain true to its original name.

In his address, Mahama expressed disappointment that the university had been renamed after Simon Diedong Dombo, a politician affiliated with the Danquah-Busia-Dombo political tradition, which the New NPP traces its ideological roots to. He argued that Dombo, while an important political figure, did not have any substantial role in the establishment of the university and therefore, should not have his name attached to it.

Mahama stated, “If any name should have been given to this university, that name should have been the name of JJ Rawlings. He won the World Food Prize, they gave him $50,000 prize money, and what did he do? He used it as seed money to start the University for Development Studies.”

This statement underlines Mahama’s position that the university’s name should reflect those who contributed to its inception, not individuals selected for political reasons. He assured students that if the NDC is voted back into power, the name of the institution would be restored to UBIDS, as it was originally envisioned.

Criticism of Akufo-Addo Administration

Mahama did not shy away from criticizing the Akufo-Addo administration during his address. In addition to the name change, he pointed out that many infrastructure projects initiated by his government before leaving office in 2016 have either been abandoned or left unfinished. He cited examples of halted projects across the Upper West Region, particularly on university campuses, and promised that if the NDC returns to power, these projects would be completed to benefit students and the surrounding communities.

Mahama emphasized that the NDC has a strong track record of supporting education and infrastructure development in Ghana, pointing to the creation of community day senior high schools during his presidency and the initial establishment of UDS.

He contrasted this with what he described as a lack of focus and commitment from the current administration when it comes to completing or continuing essential public projects.

He stated, “Nobody has any business going to dredge up some ancient person who is the father of some political tradition and come and put his name on an institution for which he has absolutely no relationship.”

This strong remark further emphasizes Mahama’s position that naming the university after Dombo was a political move rather than one rooted in the university’s history and contribution to development education.