Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo hopes universities give nation reassurance as they reopen

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the country’s university community that all support will be given by the government in ensuring that the intended reopening from Monday, June 15 is successful.

“And if it succeeds and it works, then the country will be reassured that we will step up the confidence to the future that beckons for all of us.”

President Akufo-Addo expressed this optimism on Thursday, June 11 when he met Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG) at the Jubilee House.

Schools across the country were shut on Sunday, March 15 as a result of the outbreak of Covid-19 in Ghana.

But in his last televised address to the nation on Sunday, May 31, President Akufo-Addo announced that schools will reopen for final-years from Monday, June 15.

Level 400 students will reopen first before Form 3 senior high school (SHS) students as well as Form 2 Gold Track students return to school from Monday, June 22.

Form 3 junior high school (JHS) students are to resume ahead of their Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) on Monday, June 29.

The president is banking on a successful reopening for the universities in order to send a strong signal not only to schools but to Ghanaians as a whole that other sectors can bounce back.

“I am hoping that on Monday when you reopen, we will see, and the country will see, that despite the difficulties that all of us are going through, it is possible for us to begin the re-engineering of our country in the context of this Covid19 menace,” he said.

“And I think it is just as well that it is you at the level of tertiary system who will give an example for the country.

“You are the apogee of the educational ladder and it will only make sense that you should be the one to give a good example for the country.”

Chairman of VCG Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, was full of praise for the president in his efforts in the fight against the pandemic.

Prof Oduro Owusu dismissed reports that some universities will not reopen on Monday, June 15 as directed by the president.

“All universities are obliging to reopen and none of us is defying your orders. So come Monday all universities will reopen as you have directed.”