Four universities to be renamed in new Bill

The University of Professional Studies (UPSA), University of Health and Allied Sciences, the University of the Energy and Natural Resources and the Wa polytechnic will all have their names changed in the proposed university bill.

UPSA will be named after its founder Nana Opoku Ampomah, the University of Health and Allied Sciences will be named after a former member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and Convention People’s Party (CPP) Kofi Abrefa Busia while the University of Enery and Natural resources and the Wa polytechnic will be named after former Presidents John Rawlings and Dr. Hilla Limann respectively.

Meanwhile, the Minority in parliament has called on lectures to reject the new proposal since it seeks to control academic freedoms at public universities.

Some of the proposals in the Bill grant; a) the President power to dissolve the university Council; b) Allow the university Council to appoint a Chancellor and c) Allow unions to appoint only one representative on a rotational system to serve on the Council at each cycle.

The minority has described the proposals as worrisome. According to them, the bill, which is yet to be laid in Parliament has severe consequences as far as academic freedom and the autonomy of universities are concerned.

Already Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo has stated that lecturers will go every length to resist attempts by government control academic freedoms by taking absolute control of universities through the councils.

Speaking to Starr News Minority Spokesperson on Education Peter Nortsu asked for more voice like that of Prof. Gyampo against the draft bill

“We expect the University dons to also make their voice clear, once they do that wisdom will bear on us to do the right thing….If they [majority] want the good of this country, universities to excel then I expect the majority to also oppose it when it is finally laid,” Mr. Nortsu told Starr News’ Parliamentary correspondent, Ibrahim Alhasan.

He added that lecturers must strongly oppose the bill adding that there is nothing good in the Public Universities Bill.