Govt to reverse names of Public Universities changed under Akufo-Addo
The Mahama government is preparing to introduce a new bill in Parliament to rename the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) and several other public universities across the country.
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, made the announcement during the swearing-in ceremony of the Governing Council of CKT-UTAS in Accra.
CKT-UTAS, established in 2021 to provide students with practical and technical skills for the global job market, has faced various infrastructure challenges affecting its academic development. Additionally, the university’s name has drawn mixed reactions from the public, with some stakeholders opposing it from the beginning.
He added that this move forms part of a broader initiative to review and potentially rename several public universities established or renamed during the tenure of former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
“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 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.
