The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrissu, has affirmed that President John Dramani Mahama has no intention of interfering in the academic freedom of any educational institution in Ghana.
Speaking at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) initiative a network of 20 universities across the continent the Minister reiterated the President’s commitment to protecting the autonomy of academic institutions while offering them the necessary support to thrive.
“The President believes in supporting our institutions, whether financially or otherwise, to promote knowledge and innovation,” Iddrissu stated. “However, he will not engage in any action that compromises the academic liberty of our universities.”
The Minister praised the efforts of Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, who represented the country at the event and shared both the achievements and challenges facing Ghana’s higher education sector. Among the challenges highlighted were the need for increased government funding and stronger political will to support educational development.
Haruna Iddrissu addressed these concerns, stating, “The one who holds the political will of our Republic is the President, and I’m here to assure you as he has assured many heads of institutions that he has no intention to interfere. Instead, he is committed to enhancing the academic freedom of our universities.”
The Minister also extended a warm welcome to President Mahama, who graced the anniversary event, acknowledging his ongoing dedication to educational advancement in Ghana.
The ACE initiative, which aims to promote excellence in postgraduate education and applied research, continues to be a beacon of collaboration and progress among African universities.
