The government is set to present a new bill to Parliament aimed at renaming the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), along with several other public universities.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, during the swearing-in ceremony of the Governing Council of CKT-UTAS in Accra.
Established in 2021, CKT-UTAS was created to equip students with technical skills to compete in the global workforce. However, the University has faced significant infrastructure challenges since its inception, hindering academic progress.
Public reaction to the University’s name has been mixed, with some groups rejecting the choice from the outset. After four years, the government now plans to review the naming of several public universities instituted under former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
“We have had extensive consultations with the academic community, traditional rulers, alumni associations, students, and civil society,” Minister Iddrisu said. “As a result, the name C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences is likely to change—possibly reverting to the original vision,” he announced.
The Minister further noted that this initiative is part of a broader review: “There will be a general bill to consider the renaming of several public universities that were renamed or established during President Akufo-Addo’s administration.”
Mr Iddrisu emphasized that the proposed changes are not intended to undermine the legacy of those after whom the universities were named.
“This is not to say those individuals do not deserve recognition,” he explained, “but the renaming will aim to reflect the foundational ethos and historical identities of the institutions,” he explained.
Among the institutions likely to be affected are the University of Mines and Technology and the Abdulai Salifu University.
The renaming bill is expected to be tabled before Parliament in due course.
