The Second Governing Council of the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) held its maiden meeting on the University campus from 21st to 23rd May, 2025 at the West African Centre for Sustainable Rural Transformation (WAC-SRT). The three-day meeting, chaired by Dr. Benjaimin Bewa-Nyog Kumbuor, Esq., a distinguished legal scholar, an academic, politician, statesman and former Minister of State, deliberated strategic initiatives aimed at advancing the University’s development. It is worth noting that this is the first time a Governing Council has held its meeting on the University campus.
The 11-Member Governing Council comprised: Dr. Benjaimin Bewa-Nyog Kumbuor, Esq, Chairman; Prof. Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Joseph Abazaami, President Nominee; Ing. Prof. Hamidatu Darimani, President Nominee; Prof. Adam Bawa Yussif, President Nominee; Prof. Domwin Dabire Kuupole, GTEC Representative; Dr. Musheibu Mohammed-Alfa, Industry Expert; Mr. Baro Primus, CHASS Representative; Dr. Joseph K. Wulifan, UTAG Representative; Prof. John Yaw Akparep, Convocation Representative and Mr. Festus Kwaku Ofosu, SRC Representative.
As part of the meeting agenda, the Council Members toured ongoing and stalled GETFund projects. During the tour, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, underscored the pressing need to complete these GETFund projects, some of which were initiated over 2 decades ago, but stalled due to funding constraints. Among them were the modern library complex, lecture halls, an auditorium, and a 600-bed capacity student hostel. Professor Derbile emphasised that approximately GHS 178 million was required to complete these projects, which are crucial for enhancing academic delivery and student welfare. Professor Derbile further described the completion of the projects as essential to transforming the University into a vibrant intellectual hub, particularly through the accelerated GETFund projects completion initiatives. He took members through the concept of the accelerated GETFund projects completion initiatives. Under the programme and with the approval of Council, Management has started applying some parts of the internally generated funds for accelerating sections of priority projects for the use of the University. For instance, Management has since provided money to the tune of 2.5 million Ghana cedis for addressing the funding gap which has started yielding good results. The evidence of the speedy completion of the administration block when the contractor resumed work four months ago and that of lecture hall 4 are examples. The Regional Minister, Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozuing, Esq., moved by the accelerated GETFund projects completion initiatives, pledged his commitment to supporting the development of the University.
Appeal for Special Funding:
At Lecture Hall 4, Prof. Derbile appealed to the Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, to provide a special funding window for the University’s GETFund projects. He noted that Hon. Haruna Iddrisu has already demonstrated high level of commitments and equity in the management of tertiary education and was hopeful that he would listen to our appeal. Supporting this appeal, Prof. Domwin Dabire Kuupole, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Coast and a member of the Governing Council, stressed the importance of these projects for SDD-UBIDS’ development.
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University Background:
Established in 2019 under Act 1001 of the Parliament of Ghana, SDD-UBIDS is a public tertiary institution located in Wa, Upper West Region. The University is dedicated to providing quality education and fostering research in business and integrated development studies, aiming to contribute significantly to national development.
