We have no input in Public Uni Bill – UTAG

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has denied claims that it has made inputs to the controversial public universities bill.

The Education Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh in defense of the opposition to the bill said the government is open to suggestion hence the decision to invite inputs from relevant stakeholders.

“The draft bill was circulated to all the universities and the unions with the caveat that they should let us have the suggestions to improve the bill before we can formally take it to cabinet before we take it to parliament and get it passed. So it is a stakeholder consultation that we are doing. Government has declared its intentions fairly, it hasn’t hidden anything, it is open to suggestions, it is open to discussions on the various clauses and it is opened its views,” he told ABC news.

He also explained that the move is not to control universities nor stifle academic freedom as suggested but rather to bring together under one policy all public universities to allow for a better regulated and properly defined scope of operations as has been done in other countries across the world.

Speaking to Morning Starr Wednesday, Dr. Samuel Kusi, National Secretary of UTAG said the association has not yet made any inputs to the bill as is being suggested in some quarters.

“UTAG has not officially submitted any input to the public universities bill. We have not been party to this specific bill. UTAG has gone through this bill. Attempts have been made to create a certain impression that the bill is going harmonize all public universities. It becomes problematic when you have majority of the council members appointed by politicians,” he told Francis Abban.

Already, Former President, Jerry John Rawlings has asked the Ministry of Education not rename the University of Development Studies (UDS) in his honour.

According to him, he does not want the institution renamed after him because he does not want any monument named for him.

“When the proposal for the naming of the UDS was first brought to the former President’s attention by the Education Minister in 2017, I thanked the President and the government for the honour, but politely declined the offer because I Have a long-standing principle not to have national monuments and facilities named after him.” – the Statesman said in a statement.