Prof. Seidu Al-Hassan (L) with Rune Skinnebach at UDS
The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, Rune Skinnebach, has called on the Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Seidu Al-Hassan, at the Dungu campus in the Northern Region.
The EU Ambassador’s visit aims at strengthening the partnership between the European Union and the University for Development Studies.
Mr. Skinnebach thanked the Vice Chancellor of UDS for giving them the opportunity to host the Northern Youth Forum on Galamsey, organised by the Youth Sounding Board Ghana on the university’s campus.
According to him, the European Union is always keen in engaging the youth. “The EU is always keen in engaging the youth partly because we always work for the youth in governance, climate related issues, sustainable development, energy, environment and clean cities, and it’s always for the future and the youth,” he stated.
He indicated that the future of Ghana does not depend on any foreign country but the youth of the country.
“The youth are very important and it’s always good to remind the youth of the responsibility on their shoulders, because the future of Ghana does not depend on the EU but rather on the youth. They are the ones who will bring their skills to develop the society they want to see,” he noted.
The EU Ambassador to Ghana commended UDS for being a front runner when it comes to community services.
“I commend the university for being a front runner when it comes to community services that you are offering to the students, and this is the kind of initiatives that I feel is required in Ghana. What I have seen in Ghana within three months is impressive, and we do not have to leave anybody behind in this transformation of the country,” he stressed.
The Vice Chancellor of UDS, Prof. Seidu Al-Hassan, noted that the university, for the past three years, has decided to implement policies led by the students.
“Three years ago, this university decided that all our policies should be led by the students, so we came out with what we called student-centered policies to ensure that we put the students first, and that has contributed to many of the university’s successes. The youth should not be underrated in any aspect of national development,” Prof. Al-Hassan stated.
He lauded the EU and the Youth Sounding Board Ghana for organising a forum on illegal mining (galamsey).
“If the environment is destroyed completely, then there cannot be future for this country, because no matter what policies the country initiates, without a sound environment and the protection of your resources you cannot achieve anything positive,” he emphasised.
Prof. Al-Hassan expressed his excitement about the involvement of the youth in developmental programmes of the country.
“I am happy that the brains that the EU is involving in the development of this country, especially the youth, will go a long way to redefine the kind of development we should be promoting,” he added.
FROM Eric Kombat, Dungu