Education Minister assures universities of academic freedom
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring academic freedom in the university community.
He said that academic freedom promotes smooth university operations and ensures the efficient functioning of the governing councils and management.
“I want to assure you that President John Dramani Mahama, supported by his Vice-President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, a former Vice-Chancellor and a highly experienced academic, is firmly committed to empowering university councils and management to perform their statutory duties without interference.
“In line with that, the Ministry of Education will not interfere with statutory operations of universities or micromanage them,” Mr Haruna said in a speech read on his behalf by the Technical Advisor to the Minister and the Chair of the National Education Forum. Prof. George K. T. Oduro.
UniMAC congregation
He was speaking at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) second session of its third congregation ceremony at its South Legon Campus, to graduate its postgraduate students.
In all, 58 and 147 graduates were awarded Master of Philosophy and Master of Arts degrees in communication, respectively.
Mr Haruna underscored the government’s commitment to supporting research in universities.
He stressed that research played a crucial role in national development and gave the assurance that the government would provide the necessary resources to enhance research efforts.
The minister further urged graduates to apply their acquired knowledge to drive positive change in the country.
Shaping global narrative
The Deputy Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Augustine Ocloo, remarked that, “in an era where information and communication shape global narratives, your role as graduates of this esteemed institution is pivotal.
“The knowledge and skills you have acquired will contribute significantly to national development and the transformation of the creative and media landscapes in Ghana and beyond,” he said.
Necessary skills
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah, emphasised the importance of equipping graduates with the necessary skills to contribute meaningfully to national development.
He stated that UniMAC’s vision aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting quality education, gender equality, industry innovation and reducing inequalities.
Prof. Mensah made the unequivocal statement about the objectives of UniMAC that, “through research, policy advocacy and academic excellence, we remain committed to shaping a future where education serves as a bridge to prosperity.”
He expressed excitement about the fact that UniMAC was training more women in the report that, “out of the total, we are graduating 116 females and 89 males, a testament to empowering more women to ‘accelerate action’.”
The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, Dr George Asamoah, ably assisted by the school’s Registrar, Brigitte Ampah, presented the graduates to the congregation for the receipt of postgraduate degrees.
The Valedictorian for the 2nd Session of the 3rd Congregation, Very Rev. Samuel Glover Asante, the overall best student in the Master of Philosophy in Strategic Public Relations Management, paid glowing tribute to his lecturers and supervisors for their guidance, mentorship and the knowledge they so generously imparted to him.
The Dean of the Faculty of Film and Television, Dr Ramatu Mustapha Dadzie, an alumna of UniMAC, administered the Alumni Oath to the graduates to usher them into the fraternity of the Old UniMAC Students’ Association.
