The Mahama administration is set to introduce legislation in Parliament aimed at reversing the renaming of the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) and potentially several other public universities across Ghana, which were renamed during the tenure of former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, revealed this plan during the inauguration of the Governing Council of CKT-UTAS in Accra. CKT-UTAS, established in 2021 to offer students practical and technical skills for the global job market, has faced both infrastructural challenges and public controversy over its name.
Iddrisu stated that the government’s decision follows extensive consultations with various stakeholders. “We have had extensive consultations with the academic community, traditional rulers, alumni associations, students, and civil society. 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 explained.
He further indicated that a comprehensive bill will be presented to Parliament to address the renaming of multiple public universities established or renamed under the previous administration.
The Minister clarified that this initiative is not intended to diminish the recognition of the individuals after whom these institutions were named. “This is not to say those individuals do not deserve recognition, but the renaming will aim to reflect the foundational ethos and historical identities of the institutions,” Iddrisu emphasized.
Universities likely to be affected by this review include the University of Mines and Technology and the Abdulai Salifu University. The proposed changes are part of a broader government strategy to reassess the naming conventions of public universities established or renamed during the Akufo-Addo era.
The government anticipates tabling the necessary bill in Parliament shortly to formalize the university renaming process. This move is expected to generate significant public and political debate.
