The government has presented to Parliament bills proposing the establishment of five universities across the nation.
These include the University of Mampong Bill, 2024; University of Engineering and Applied Sciences Bill, 2024; University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Bill, 2024; University of Health, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kintampo Bill, 2024; and the University of Local Governance and Development Bill, 2024.
Presenting the bills in parliament on July 26, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, provided some insight into the need for these institutions, noting, “University of Mampong is a combination of Mampong Technical College and a branch of Appiah Minkah University which is located at Mampong. Mr Speaker, this is to ensure effective management by ensuring that the organisation has a local system, a local structure instead of being an affiliate or a branch of the Appiah Minkah University in Kumasi.”
He further explained, “…Mr Speaker, the university at Kintampo has been there for years. We believe that given its track record it can be upgraded into a university but used to be a college. Mr Speaker, the University of Engineering, Applied Sciences in the Ahafo Region – this is an opportunity for Ahafo region to have a university of its own and a campus with all the requisite infrastructure which will add value to our country.
“Mr Speaker, we have the Bunso which is going to be the Engineering and Agricultural Sciences. It is also to add value to the stock of universities we have in this country, especially as applies to enhancing STEM education in the country. Mr Speaker, all these universities with a focus on engineering and health sciences are to add more to the stock of universities we have and to increase our gross tertiary and women ratio.”
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, voiced concerns about the absence of a briefing on the fiscal implications of the bills, given the impending change in government.
He stated, “Mr Speaker if it is for regions, it is obvious that the Oti Region and the Western North are not included in this list. Oti region and Western North are the two regions that are still not having universities. So, if the intention is to have a university in every region, then there is the need for us to urgently consider Oti and Western North as well.”
He added, “The only concern I have is the fact that we are four months into the next election and five universities are being done, the fiscal implication is not well known and so in the explanatory note, the minister should have added the fiscal implication to the new universities they intend to establish because it is not just a university by name, you have to provide amenities and serious infrastructure to befit a university,” he stated.
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