Stop interfering in running of universities - John Mahama cautions gov’t

The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, says the NDC will continue to promote greater academic freedom in universities.

He said the government had no business interfering in the running of universities, noting that universities had their own autonomous structures in place to deal with their administrative issues.

Speaking during a meeting with the national executive members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), in Kumasi, he said the disturbances on the campuses of the University of Education, Winneba, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) will never occur under his administration.

A statement issued by the Office of the former President said, he, therefore, cautioned the government against its actions that were affecting cordial engagements among lecturers and also management members and ultimately affecting teaching and learning.

Universities Bill

It said Mr Mahama restated the NDC’s opposition to the Public Universities Bill, affirming that each and every university must remain autonomous and conduct their affairs without the intended interference in their activities.

“Every university based on its diversity and what its objectives are must have its separate Act… if there are issues with the Act [that established a university], we can amend the Act for that particular university,” he stated.

According to the statement, Mr Mahama said, “if the university council feels the work of the vice-chancellor is not up to standard,

it is the duty of the university council to take action; it is not the duty of government to attempt to remove the vice-chancellor.”

It said the Kumasi meeting discussed many topical issues including remuneration, steps towards the introduction of sustainable grants for research and graduate education, the management of utilities on campus, the infrastructure deficit in the universities and the role universities could play in managing the unemployment challenge facing Ghana and other African countries.

The discussions, it explained, formed part of the NDC and former President Mahama’s engagement with stakeholders and key groupings ahead of the 2020 general election.

Interactions

According to President Mahama, the interactions were aimed at sharing ideas, listening to the concerns and expectations of the various groupings to shape the party’s manifesto for 2020.