Ghana to Restore Original Names of Public Universities: Government Moves to Reverse Akufo-Addo-Era Changes
The Ghanaian government is preparing to introduce a bill in Parliament aimed at restoring the original names of several public universities that were renamed during President Nana Akufo-Addo's administration. This initiative, announced by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, seeks to align university names with their foundational missions and historical identities.
One prominent example is the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), established in 2021. Despite its focus on equipping students with practical and technical skills for the global job market, the university has faced infrastructural challenges and stakeholder opposition to its name. Minister Iddrisu indicated that extensive consultations with academic communities, traditional leaders, alumni, student representatives, and civil society organizations have led to the proposal of reverting to the institution's original name, reflecting its founding vision.
The proposed renaming is part of a broader policy review evaluating the names of public universities established or renamed during former President Akufo-Addo's tenure. Minister Iddrisu clarified that this move is not intended to diminish the contributions of individuals after whom these institutions were named but to ensure that university names accurately represent their core mandates.
The formal process of renaming will involve the introduction of a general bill in Parliament, which will consider the restoration of original names for various public universities. This legislative approach underscores the government's commitment to preserving the historical and educational integrity of Ghana's higher education institutions.
This development follows previous criticisms from political figures and civil society groups regarding the renaming of universities. Former President John Dramani Mahama, for instance, has pledged to revert the names of public universities changed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, emphasizing the importance of aligning university names with their core missions. Similarly, the Executive Director of the Alliance For Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson, has criticized the renaming as "ridiculous," citing potential negative impacts on the credibility of the institutions.
As the government moves forward with this initiative, it aims to reinforce the foundational principles of Ghana's public universities, ensuring that their names reflect their intended purposes and uphold their historical significance.
