Govt to rename these universities

The Mahama administration is set to introduce a new bill in Parliament aimed at renaming the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), along with several other public universities across the country.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced the plan during the swearing-in of the Governing Council of CKT-UTAS in Accra.

Established in 2021, CKT-UTAS was designed to equip students with practical and technical skills for the global job market. However, the university has grappled with infrastructure challenges that have hindered its academic progress. The name of the institution has also sparked debate, with some stakeholders voicing opposition since its inception.

According to the Minister, the proposed renaming is part of a broader review of public universities that were established or renamed under former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration.

“We have had extensive consultations with the academic community, traditional rulers, alumni associations, students, and civil society. As a result, the name C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences is likely to change—possibly reverting to the original vision.

“There will be a general bill to consider the renaming of several public universities that were renamed or established during former President Akufo-Addo’s administration,” Haruna stated.

Haruna Iddrisu, has clarified that the government’s proposal to rename several public universities is not intended to undermine the legacy of individuals after whom these institutions were named.

“This is not to say those individuals do not deserve recognition, but the renaming will aim to reflect the foundational ethos and historical identities of the institutions,” he said.

Among the universities likely to be affected by the review are the University of Mines and Technology and the Abdulai Salifu University.

The proposed changes form part of a broader initiative to reassess the naming of public universities that were renamed or established during the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The government is expected to table a bill in Parliament soon to formalise the renaming process.