The University Teachers Association (UTAG) is set to meet government over the controversial Public Universities Bill.
The passage of the Public University Bill, 2020 gives the President, the powers to appoint Vice Chancellors and majority members of the University Council.
Per the draft Bill, a University Council shall consist of nine persons, including a chairperson who will be nominated by the President.
The draft Bill when passed will see to the renaming of The University of Professional Studies, Accra after its founder, Nana Opoku Ampomah.
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).
Ghana has reportedly approved the Public Universities Bill after its second reading stage after the Bill was withdrawn and re-laid in the House in November 2020, although UTAG- national has opposed the passage of the bill.
The Minority in Parliament on Tuesday, 15 December 2020, expressed conditional support for the processes to get the Bill passed which was based on consultation from some groups that wrote to them during their recess.
Speaking in an interview with host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive Ekourba Gyasi, UTAG President, Professor Charles Marfo explained that the Association still insists that their recommendations were not captured in the Bill.
Also Speaking on the issue, the President of the Legon Chapter of the University Teachers Association (UTAG), Dr. Samuel Nkunbaan, said government is bent on having absolute control in terms of the running of the affairs of the universities
He said the Bill, which seeks to harmonize Public Universities under one law, has disturbing implications for the future of higher education in Ghana.
He noted that the implementation of the Public University bill violates the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana as the new law will erode the protection that the constitution grants the universities.
“To conclude, the Bill is unconstitutional, unnecessary, and deeply harmful to the integrity of Public Universities. It posses a threat to the ability of students, lecturers and administration to carry out their day to day learning, teaching and research functions without fear of government dictates or reprisals”, he added.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa
