Boadi Tv
Dear countrymen, President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced that his government plans to establish four new universities in response to the increasing number of people aspiring to tertiary education.
Presenting his last State of the Nation’s Address (SONA) yesterday, Nana Akufo-Addo attributed the “rise” in university applicants to his government’s ‘no guarantor policy’, which removed the requirement for student loan applicants to produce a guarantor before accessing a loan.
“As a result of the availability of student loans, the government is establishing four new universities,” the President said on Tuesday.
The universities would be in four regions – Mampong (Ashanti Region), Akrodie (Bono Region), Bunso (Eastern Region), and Kintampo (Bono East region).
But with about 9 months to the December polls, it remains to be seen how this promise will be achieved. Earlier, ahead of the 2020 elections, Nana Akufo-Addo made a similar promise to establish a university in the Oti Region when he went campaigning there. But until this time, there’s been no sight of work on that promise.
As if that is enough, back on March 30, 2022. The government pledged to establish five Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) universities across the country, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said.
The STEM universities will be sited in the newly created regions namely Western North, Savannah, North East, Ahafo, and Oti regions.
Delivering the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Wednesday (30 March) in Parliament, Akufo-Addo said the government is inching closer to securing funds for the construction of the STEM universities.
“Government is in the process of securing financing for the construction of five (5) STEM universities in five (5) new Regions, that is Western North, Savannah, North East, Ahafo and Oti regions,” he said.
“Steps are being taken to turn the planned Bunso campus of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development into a standalone, independent University focused on the study of Engineering. Construction of this campus is set to begin within the next three months.”
“The TVET institutions are being upgraded and equipped to enable them to train the increased numbers of children that we want to be attracted to that sector to meet the modern needs of our economy,” he added.
He further announced plans to commission some refurbished refurbished National Vocational and Technical Institutes (NVTIs) across the country.
“This year, I will be commissioning some of the thirty-four (34) refurbished National Vocational and Technical Institutes (NVTIs) across the country. The refurbishment comprised the construction, rehabilitation, and equipping of laboratories, workshops, additional classrooms, hostels, and administrative offices,”
My question is;
- Why is the President of Ghana playing with empty promises this way?
- Is good governance and politics all about empty promises?
- Is Nana Addo willing to support the NPP to break that 8?
Recommendations;
- The government must support our basic schools.
- Availability of Teaching and Learning Materials enhances proper education. The government must provide them.
- The Free SHS needs rapid review for good.
Educate Africa Institute (EAI) as an education think tank is focused and eyeing our education policies and providing practical solutions to make it better.
However, we must know that posterity will surely judge us all one day. Ghana first.
Credit: Fred Dzakpata,
Signed
William Boadi
Executive Director of (EAI), Educationist, Political analyst, and Social Worker.
+233541935106.
EAI: Promoting Quality Education, and Ensuring Social Justice.
