Stop the renaming of public universities and withdraw the common universities act

I find it pretty intriguing for a govt that has never built any university to be so passionate about renaming our public universities.

Look at the embarrassing situation whereby one of the heroes has politely turned down the "honour".

I hear he was only informed about the decision by the Minister of Education. But the question is, was he consulted? Did govt think it was just enough for a personality like H.E Flt Lt Rawlings to be merely informed of such a project without proper consultation?

The man who built UDS does not want a state facility to be named after him, at least not in his lifetime. Who performs the outdooring of a child?

I recall a similar attempt to rename Ho Technical University without consultation with the Chiefs and people of Asorgli State, who gave land for the establishment of the institution in 1968.

The hasty attempt by the govt to rename public universities and put them under one Act amounts to political interference in academic freedom of the universities. A similar thing happened in KNUST. But the Chancellor of the University, Otumfo Osei Tutu II, stood his grounds and saved the University. We saw how a VC who did nothing wrong, was dismissed because of parochial political interest.

I am humbly appealing to H.E the President to withdraw the bill to ensure peace and tranquillity on the campuses of our universities.

Simon Amegashie-Viglo

Former Lecturer, Ho Technical University