The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has disclosed that the government has received a Cabinet directive to change the names of all public universities that were renamed during the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr. Ayariga explained that the decision is part of efforts to restore the original identities of these institutions, which were altered to honor specific individuals during the previous administration.
“Cabinet has issued a directive for government to change the names of all public universities that were given individual names under the previous Akufo-Addo government,” Mr. Ayariga confirmed.
During the Akufo-Addo era, several public universities and technical institutions were renamed to commemorate influential personalities. Notable examples include:
- The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa, renamed as the George Grant University of Mines and Technology.
- The Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS), renamed as the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies.
- The Navrongo Campus of UDS, renamed the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences.
- The Ho Technical University, renamed the Ephraim Amu Technical University.
These name changes sparked widespread controversy, with the then-opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) accusing the Akufo-Addo government of politicizing educational institutions and honoring figures aligned with a specific political ideology.
Mr. Ayariga emphasized that the current government’s decision is intended to depoliticize public universities and promote a sense of neutral national identity across all higher learning institutions.
“Universities should reflect national heritage and not partisan identity. This move seeks to unify rather than divide,” he added.
If implemented, the directive will mark a significant reversal of one of the Akufo-Addo administration’s most symbolic educational policies. The anticipated renaming process is expected to spark national debate among education stakeholders, alumni, and political observers.
The renaming of public universities under the previous administration faced resistance from various academic and civil society groups, who argued that names of institutions should reflect their regional or academic identity rather than political affiliation.
Political analysts predict that this latest move by the Ayariga-led Majority may rekindle old debates about the politicization of Ghana’s educational institutions and the role of historical recognition in governance.
As of now, no official timeline has been announced for the renaming process, but insiders suggest that Cabinet’s directive will soon be tabled before Parliament for implementation.
