Minister for Education Inaugurates Governing Councils of UCC, KNUST & UDS

The Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has inaugurated Governing Councils for the University of Cape Coast, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University for Development Studies at a ceremony in Accra. Members of the UCC Governing Council include: Mrs Nancy Thompson - Government Nominee (Chairperson) Prof. Joseph Ampiah Ghartey - Vice-Chancellor Dr. Tamimu Osman - Government Nominee Dr. Thomas Agyarko - Poku: Government Nominee Dr. Mrs Ernestina Freduah-Antoh - Government Nominee Dr. Edem Amenumey: - Convocation (Non-Professorial) Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng - University Teachers Association of Ghana (President) Mr. Tony Henry Arthur - Students’ Representative Council Benjamin Sundeme - Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana Mr. Stephen Williams - Teachers & Educational Workers Union Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah - National Council for Tertiary Education Mrs. Cecilia Kwakye Coffie - Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools Mr. Gorkel Obro-Adibo - Representative of UCC Alumni Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Prempeh implored the three governing councils that they were required by law to ensure the implementation of the aims of their respective universities; determine their strategic direction and, monitor and evaluate policy implementation. He also charged them to promote income-generating activities as part of the University's programme; control the finances of the University and, determine the allocation and proper use of funds. According to the Minister for Education, the Governing Council of each of the universities is to ensure the creation of equal opportunity for members of their respective universities without regard to ethnicity, sex, race, religious belief or political affiliation. Dr. Prempeh said consistent with the reform agenda of the government, the Ministry of Education has embarked on the review of the legal, institutional and regulatory framework to properly outline their functions and strengthen their mandate to perform efficiently. The Minister also called on universities in the country to position themselves appropriately to increase the admission of Senior High Schools as a result of the implementation of the free SHS policy by the government. The Minister congratulated members of the Governing Council and assured them of government’s commitment towards promoting tertiary education in the country as a means of equipping citizens with the tools vital for national development. Present were the Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), Prof. Salifu Mohammed.