Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Anyaa-Sowutuom, Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi has described government’s decision to reverse the names of some universities in Ghana as ‘misplaced priority’.
His commment comes after parliament approved bills allowing the renaming of the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences to the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo and the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies and the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS).
The bill also allows the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development to be renamed University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi.
A report by the education committee of Parliament justified the decision, stating, “many universities globally are changing names to reflect contemporary values and social justice. By following this trend, the University will enhance its global competitiveness and appeal to international students.
“The renaming strategy seeks to clarify each university’s core mission and anchor its identity within its community, positioning them for greater national and international recognition.”
Commenting on the renaming on GHToday on GHOne TV with Serwaa Amihere on Monday, December 22, Dr. Kissi opined that the change of name is unnecessary.
“The name change does not add to the working conditions of the lecturers, so I think it is a misplaced priority…,” he said.
Likening the renaming to what occurred in the past regarding the seat of government, Dr. Kissi said the change of name can never alter the history of the institutions.
“Whether jubilee or flagstaff house, at the end of the day, it is the seat of the executive arm of government and I really think that we keep sending the wrong signals with regards to some of these things and I will plead with the NDC government or even the entire government that this back and forth with institutional names ought to be put behind us.
“As it stands now, I don’t think we say Kufour National Health Insurance, neither do we say Nana Addo free SHS, we don’t label these things [but] people know who brought the originators, the constitution was done during the ear of JJ Rawlings, do we add Rawlings’ name to the Constitution as ‘Ghana Rawlings Constitution? No…,” he said.
The former MP further urged the government to rather focus on raising funds to help the company pursue its core mandate.
“We need to put these things behind us and rather focus on one, funding for these institutions and how we can raise them to be able to help the core subjects that they do there so that we can have graduands who are well equipped and in-line with industry so that transitioning from school to work would be much better, that is what our priority should be…,” he said.
Dr. Kissi hoped the NPP won’t repeat same mistakes when they win power.
“I hope that the NPP won’t rewrite thing [when we come to power] because that is not supposed to be our priority as a nation…there is something in names, I admit, however our priority looking at the educational infrastructure we have in this country and the equipment, our focus should be equipping the institutions,” he said.
