Vice President for the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) branch at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Anthony
According to him, the bill is a mere act by government to take over the academic freedom and usurp powers of university authorities.
It is expected that the University of Development Studies will be renamed after the first President under the Fourth Republic, Jerry John Rawlings.
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).
The University of Energy and Natural Resources will also be named after former Prime Minister of Ghana, Kofi Abrefa Busia after the passage of the bill.
Speaking to Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive Tuesday, Vice President for the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) branch at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), stated that government wants to run the university the way it pleases.
“If universities are not allowed academic freedom to express their academic views and to do things that are in the best interest of the universities then we are finished, we are finished. We don’t want any intrusion or interference from government…”, he added.
Clause 3(1) of the draft bill seeks to give the President Powers to appoint a majority of five members of a proposed nine-member governing council.
Clause 3(5) grants the President sweeping powers to dissolve and reconstitute governing councils at his pleasure in cases of "emergencies."
Clause 24 dangerously arrogates approval of all financial matters in public universities solely in the hands of the Minister responsible for Finance
Furthermore, clauses 5 and 12, the contentious aspects of the 48-clause bill, stipulate among others that the governing body of a public university shall consist of the following nine members appointed by the President:
(a) chairperson nominated by the President;
(b) the Vice-Chancellor;
(c) four persons nominated by the President, one of whom shall be a woman;
(d) one representative of the registered Unions in the university on rotational basis
(e) one representative of the University convocation elected by the convocation;
(h) one representative of the students of the University, nominated by the Students’ Union; and(j) one representative from the National Council for Tertiary Education who shall be a non-voting member.
It also states that the chairperson and other members of the Council shall be appointed by the President in accordance with article 70 of the Constitution.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa
