A picture showing the representatives of the Parliamentary Caucus and University Staff at the West African Centre for Sustainable Rural Transformation (WAC-SRT) on the University Campus, Wa.
A delegation from the Upper West Parliamentary Caucus on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, paid a working visit to the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), Wa to strengthen collaboration between the University and the Members of Parliament.
The delegation was led by the Leader of the Caucus, Hon. Dr Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare, Member of Parliament for Daffiama-Bussie-Issa Constituency. Other members of the delegation included: the Deputy Leader of the Caucus, Hon. Bede A. Zeideng, Member of Parliament for Lawra Constituency; Hon. Dr Richard Kuuire, Member of Parliament for Nandom Constituency; Hon. Mohammed Issah Bataglia, Member of Parliament for Sissala East Constituency; and Hon. Peter Lanchene Toobu, Member of Parliament for Wa West Constituency.
During an interactive session with the Parliamentary Caucus, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, outlined key development priorities of the University. He particularly highlighted the need to complete uncompleted GETFund projects within the shortest possible time to support the operations of the University. He also highlighted the urgent need for providing the University with seed money for addressing the infrastructure deficit of the University and for investing in the operations of the University. He indicated that the University will require about 180 million Ghana cedis to complete five ongoing GETFund projects on the campus. These projects include the Library Complex, two lecture halls and office complex, one auditorium, and a 600-bed capacity hostel. The Vice-Chancellor, also, enumerated other needs which include the need for payment of land compensation and the provision of clearance for recruitment of staff into critical areas. The Vice-Chancellor appealed to the MPs for their support in addressing these pressing needs to help position the University as a centre of academic excellence in higher education in tandem with its mandate.
The Leader of the Caucus, Hon. Dr. Sebastian N. Sandaare, noted that their visit was a change in paradigm for both regional and national development. He indicated that in the past, the concentration of Members of Parliament was often their constituencies which they represent in Parliament. However, the challenges of regional development require a paradigm shift and an underlining need for Members of Parliament to come together to support regional development efforts in line with national development goals. He, then assured the Vice-Chancellor and his Management that they would advocate for addressing the infrastructure deficits and the many development challenges affecting the University. As part of the visit, the MPs toured a number of uncompleted GETFund infrastructure projects on campus in order to appreciate the realty on the ground.
Other members of the University Management and community who were present during the visit of the Caucus included the following: Professor Issaka Kanton Osumanu, Pro Vice-Chancellor; Mr. Job Asante, Registrar; Dr. Iddrisu Ngmenipuo Mohammed, Ag. Director of Finance; Mr Desmond Y. Ziniyel, Ag Director of Internal Audit; Deans of Faculties and Schools; and Directors and other members of the University community.