The Ghanaian government, under the Mahama administration, is preparing to propose a bill in Parliament that aims to rename the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), along with other public universities in the country.
This announcement was made by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu at the swearing-in ceremony for the Governing Council of CKT-UTAS in Accra. The initiative is a component of a larger effort to reassess university naming policies, especially those institutions that were established or renamed during former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s term.
CKT-UTAS, which was founded in 2021 with a focus on practical and technical education, has encountered ongoing infrastructure issues. Additionally, the naming of the university after C.K. Tedam has instigated debate among stakeholders, with some questioning the logic behind the decision.
Minister Haruna Iddrisu emphasized that extensive consultations have been conducted with various stakeholders, including the academic community, traditional leaders, alumni, students, and civil society. He indicated that discussions have highlighted the possibility of renaming C.K. Tedam University to better reflect its initial vision.
He clarified that this renaming effort is not intended to overlook the contributions of individuals after whom the universities were named. Instead, the goal is to reestablish the institutions’ identities, rooted in their historical and educational missions. “This is about preserving the foundational ethos of our universities, not erasing legacies,” he asserted.
Other institutions that might undergo name changes include the University of Mines and Technology and Abdulai Salifu University. The Ministry of Education plans to present the bill to Parliament in the upcoming weeks to formalize the proposed changes.
Source: https://www.adomonline.com
