Manasseh Azure slams Dr Adutwum on 'useless' degrees

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has taken a swipe at former Minister of Education Yaw Osei Adutwum, arguing that Ghana's development challenges are the result of poor leadership rather than so-called ‘useless’ university programmes.

Reacting to recent remarks by former Minister of Education Yaw Osei Adutwum, who questioned the relevance of certain university programmes, Awuni argued that the country's unemployment crisis should not be blamed on academic disciplines.

In a Facebook post shared on Sunday, July 5, 2026, he said the focus should instead be on leadership and governance.

"The problem is not so much about the 'useless' courses. It has more to do with the not-so-useful leaders, if useless leaders might be considered too harsh," he stated.

Awuni argued that Ghana's education system remains underfunded and poorly managed, leaving many graduates without the opportunities needed to realise their full potential.

"Our education system, which Dr Adutwum presided over, is poorly funded and poorly managed. The result? Poorly trained minds, barely literate enough to look for jobs. The outliers and sharp ones don't get opportunities to put their talent and knowledge to good use in Ghana," he indicated.

'Fix the economy, not label degrees useless' — Kwaku Azar slams Adutwum

Awuni also challenged calls for the country to produce more engineers, arguing that Ghana has failed to create an environment where such professionals can thrive.

"Dr Adutwum claims we need more engineers, but what opportunities have been created for our engineers to thrive in Ghana? Our brilliant engineers, who graduate from KNUST and other universities, are doing great things outside Ghana."

He further argued that the migration of highly skilled professionals, including medical doctors, demonstrates that the country's problem lies beyond the types of degrees offered at universities.

Awuni defended programmes such as Development Studies, Fine Arts, Philosophy and the Performing Arts, saying they should not be dismissed simply because they do not lead directly to traditional employment.

According to him, education should go beyond preparing graduates for jobs and instead equip them to create opportunities for themselves and others.

"The very idea that a course must prepare a student for employment is problematic. Elsewhere, education prepares students not only to be employed but also to create employment opportunities. With the right education, students must aim to START SOMETHING after leaving school," he said.

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