BY VALENTIA TETTEH
Parliament has approved new legislation amending the names of some public universities in Ghana as part of efforts to strengthen institutional identity and enhance global competitiveness.
The Amendment bills were approved on Friday, December 19, and affect three public universities established in 2019.
Under the new legislation, C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences will now be known as the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo.
The university was originally established under the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences Act, 2019 (Act 1000), which was passed on August 2, 2019, and assented to on August 23, 2019. The amendment seeks to reflect the university’s geographical identity while strengthening stakeholder engagement and public appeal.
Similarly, the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, established under Act 1001 in 2019, will now be known as the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies. The amendment to the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies Act, 2020 (Act 1001), removes the personal name to position the institution more broadly within national and international academic spaces.
In addition, the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development has been renamed the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi, aligning the institution’s identity with its core mandate and location.
According to the report of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, the name changes are expected to foster stronger relationships between the universities and key stakeholders, boost public interest, increase enrolment, and attract greater funding and alumni support.
The Committee noted that name changes among universities are a growing global trend aimed at reflecting contemporary values and social justice.
