Tamale, Northern Region— Tuesday, July 15, 2025
The Parliament of Ghana has passed the University for Development Studies (UDS) Bill, 2025 under a certificate of urgency, aimed at restructuring and strengthening the legal and operational framework of one of the nation’s premier public universities.
The development was contained in a report posted on the official Facebook page of the Parliament of Ghana, which Zaa News monitored.
According to the post, the Bill was laid before the House by the Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, who explained that the purpose of the legislation is to re-establish UDS by re-enacting the existing Provisional National Defence Council Law (P.N.D.C.L. 279). The move, he said, is intended to reposition the university to deliver high-quality tertiary education that aligns with Ghana’s development needs.
“The University for Development Studies must be empowered through this legal reform to better serve the country’s educational and socio-economic priorities,” Hon. Iddrisu stated.
Presenting the report of the Committee on Education, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, noted that UDS has undergone significant changes since its establishment 32 years ago. He emphasized that it has become necessary to review and modernize the governing law to reflect current public university policy and best practices.
“The university has expanded and evolved over the years. Updating P.N.D.C.L. 279 is essential to ensure effective governance and to position UDS to meet future demands,” Hon. Nortsu-Kotoe said in the committee’s submission.
The Committee’s report highlighted that the new Bill will provide a more robust legal framework that enhances the university’s mandate, improves accountability, and supports innovation in teaching, research, and community engagement.
Established in 1992, the University for Development Studies was designed as a multi-campus institution to serve as a catalyst for development, particularly in the northern parts of Ghana. The passage of the new Bill is expected to deepen its commitment to academic excellence and community-focused research.
The Bill now awaits Presidential assent to be signed into law.
Reported by; Issifu Alidu Laa-Bandow/zaaghana.com
