• The University for Development Studies’ Management On October 20, 2023 promptly organized a rescue mission team to rescue stranded students in flood-hit communities from Tamale to the affected areas.
  • Below is as written by Ali Abdur Razaq Danbo (UDS Media) and published on uds.edu.gh with a few edits.

Read

In the aftermath of an extensive downpour that swept across the nation, numerous communities have been left grappling with widespread flooding. Among those affected are Lonto and Kpadjai within the Kpandai District.

Notably, tens of students from the University for Development Studies who were participating in the Third Trimester Field Practical Program (TTFPP) found themselves stranded in these afflicted communities.

The two individuals on the rescue team were Mr. Solomon Chikpa and Dr. Abdul-Basit Tampuli, the coordinator for the two affected communities, and Prof. Addah Wesseh, Director of Community Research and Outreach Programmes. To return the pupils to safety, the squad was escorted by a 40-seater bus.

Following a six-hour drive, the team finally reached Lonto, where 20 affected students had gathered for their evacuation. Their faces lit up with relief and gratitude as they spotted the approaching rescue team. Equipped with life jackets, the students were carefully escorted via boats to the opposite shore, where the bus was waiting to take them back to the Tamale Campus.

Importantly, all students were confirmed to be in good health, and no casualties were reported. The students expressed their sincere appreciation to the rescue team and the university’s management, adding that their time in the community had been an enriching and memorable experience.

In a show of appreciation, the university team also visited the chiefs and elders of the affected communities. During this visit, they expressed their gratitude to the chiefs and people for accepting to accommodate the students whilst they were on the TTFPP. The community leaders lauded the students for serving as mentors to the local children and youth, describing the experiences and knowledge shared as invaluable.

For their part, the chiefs extended an open invitation, affirming that their doors would always be open to accommodate students from the university students in the future.

This move to rescue stranded students re-echoes the unwavering commitment of the management of UDS to the well-being and safety of its students. It serves as a poignant reminder that the institution is prepared to go to great lengths to ensure the welfare of its student body, both on campus and within their respective communities.

Story by:
Ali Abdur Razaq Danbo (UDS Media)