We’ll reverse names of public universities changed under Akufo-Addo – Haruna

The government has indicated that a new bill will be introduced in Parliament to rename the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) and other public universities changed during the Akufo-Addo administration.

The Akufo-Addo led-administration changed several universities names from their original ones to some person believed to be former leaders or founders of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking during the inauguration of the Governing Council of the CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu disclosed that he will file  the bill after extensive consultations with key stakeholders.

He said the intention was not to demean the contributions of the personalities after whom President Akufo-Addo named the institutions, but to reflect on the integrity of the universities.

“The Government has taken a decision to review the names of some of the universities  and therefore, I will be presenting a bill to Parliament after a committee that I will be putting in place reviews it.”

He continued: “It is not to diminish the contribution of any individual, particularly names that were conferred on those institutions, but to reaffirm the foundational ethos and historical identities of our tertiary institutions. The decision is not taken lightly. We’ve had extensive consultations with the academic community and stakeholders, traditional leaders, alumni associations, students, and civil society.”

The university used to be the Navrongo campus of the University of Development Studies before it was renamed in 2019 and elevated to university status.

Clement Kubindiwor (CK) Tedam was a Ghanaian politician helped found the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). He served on Council of State during the Kufuor administration.