The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has mounted a strong opposition to the passage of the controversial Public Universities’ Bill.
The bill seeks to harmonise the governance, administration and accountability structures of public universities.
But after perusing the bill, UTAG says it “is at a loss regarding the rationale for the enactment of the legislation.”
Paramount among UTAG’s concerns are that the bill seeks to curtail academic freedom as established in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
These freedoms, UTAG says “thrives on the pillars of institutional autonomy, self-governance, individual rights and freedoms of academics and students, and tenure for academics.”
UTAG also believes the composition of universities’ council under the bill “and the overwhelming powers given the President within the Council structure and mandate is out of line with the constitutional provisions of the country.”
According to UTAG, they would not hesitate to challenge the “serious constitutional matters” they raised in the Supreme Court if their concerns go unaddressed.
They have, meanwhile, proposed 24 major amendments to the bill which is currently before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education. One of such proposed amendments is formation of a quorum of the governing council.
UTAG says with a proposed 13-member council — eight of them from the government –should seven members form a quorum as proposed the government team can hold a meeting by themselves at any time.
Other stake-holders have also resisted the passage of the bill. Former Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, Prof Ernest Aryeetey has also entreated Vice Chancellors to kick against the bill.
He also called on Members of Parliament to vote against it.
Source:Fiilafmonline/JoyNews
