Haruna Iddrisu Targets University Name Changes
Ghana’s Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, announced plans to introduce a bill reversing the renaming of public universities done during President Akufo-Addo’s tenure. The decision, revealed on May 7, 2025, follows extensive consultations with academia, traditional leaders, students, and civil society, aiming to restore the original names of institutions like Tamale Technical University and CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Science.
The move addresses universities renamed by Akufo-Addo to honor NPP figures, such as the Navrongo campus of the University of Development Studies, which became CK Tedam University in 2019. Iddrisu emphasized that the policy shift isn’t meant to undermine any legacy but to align university names with their core mandates, a promise echoed by President Mahama during his 2024 campaign.
However, the announcement has drawn reactions on social media. Critics questioned how renaming improves education quality, while others called it “lame,” arguing it distracts from urgent issues like job creation. Many Ghanaians feel symbolic changes fail to address deeper economic and educational challenges.
Iddrisu also urged technical universities to support Mahama’s 24-hour economy vision by fostering entrepreneurial skills. While the bill aims to refocus educational priorities, its reception underscores the tension between historical recognition and practical progress in Ghana’s education sector.