Tuesday, December 14, 2010

UDS TO INTRODUCE THE STUDY OF FORENSIC SCIENCES


The Governing Council Chairman of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in the Northern Region, Dr. Baba Abdulai Salifu has announced plans by the University to introduce a degree course in Forensic Science.

According to him, the introduction of the programme would not make UDS the only University in Ghana to run Forensic Science, but would help Ghanaians especially those in the Security Services to upgrade their expertise to ensure a more strengthened, accurate, fair and transparent justice system in the country.

“As Ghana gets more democratic with the rule of law as one of the pillars, so will there be the need for the justice system, particularly the criminal justice aspect, to be made more purposeful and responsive".

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Savannahnews in Tamale at the 3rd Induction Ceremony for 82 Clinical Students of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) of the UDS, Dr. Abdulai said the Forensic Science programme had been discussed extensively by the University Council and had also received approval from the Academic Board pending a final review for implementation.

He noted that the University was waiting for approval from the National Accreditation Board (NAB) to commence the programme which he said was already over subscribed by the personnel from the various Security Agencies notably the BNI, Military and Police.

Dr. Abdulai noted that the UDS as an institution with modern scientific equipments and facilities, was fully ready to undertake the Forensic Science Degree Programme, and therefore prayed that the University would not meet any frustrations from the National Accreditation Board.

The programme would enhance on the scene investigations and also weaken the operational networks of the criminals and drug peddlers. The UDS Medical School is one of the best in Ghana which has received massive infrastructure from the GETfund making academic work (teaching and learning) more unflustered and relaxed.

The UDS Council Chairman cited the ritual murder of some women between 1998 and 2000, which sparked fears and panic amongst the Ghanaian public and accusations from the two main political parties, as some of the few cases that could have been easily detected if Ghana had had Forensic Investigators. “During that time most Ghanaians including the former President Jerry John Rawlings were asking for the American FBI to come and conduct forensic investigation,” he said.

Dr. Abdulai however called on the government to turn serious attention to the UDS and provide the needed infrastructural support on all the four campuses.

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