The former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Professional Studies (GIMPA) Professor Stephen Adei has called for the amendment of the Public Universities Draft Bill.
According to him, the bill must not be withdrawn completely but several sections of it must be changed before it is passed.
The first to publicly oppose the draft bill is a lecturer at the University of Ghana Professor Ransford Gyampo.
Some of the proposals in the Bill grant; a) the President power to dissolve the university Council; b) Allow the university Council to appoint a Chancellor and c) Allow unions to appoint only one representative on a rotational system to serve on the Council at each cycle.
The minority has described the proposals as worrisome. According to them, the bill, which is yet to be laid in Parliament has severe consequences as far as academic freedom and the autonomy of universities are concerned.
Speaking on Morning Starr Tuesday, Professor Adei told host Francis Abban that “there is a need for a Public University Bill. I think there are so many things that can improve the running of our Universities when there is one…but I don’t like that idea that the President can dissolve the council per the provision in the Public Universities Bill.”
The Chairman of the National Development and Planning Commission added “What is wrong is amendable. Withdrawing it completely should be the last option…a lot of areas of the Bill needs improvement and will be improved.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
