Government Pledges to Uphold Academic Freedom in Universities – Haruna Iddrisu

Navrongo: Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister for Education, has assured that the Mahama-led government will not interfere with the academic freedom of universities in the country. Speaking at the fifth congregation of the Clement Kubindiwo Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), he emphasized the government's commitment to respecting the Constitution regarding academic autonomy.According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Iddrisu highlighted that the government's 'Reset Agenda' does not include interference in academic matters but rather aims to provide universities with the freedom necessary to contribute to research and the country's social development. He also addressed the issue of legacy debts at CKT-UTAS, specifically those related to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and indicated that the government would consider absorbing these debts to allow the university to focus on its educational mandate.Mr. Iddrisu assured that CKT-UTAS would be prioritized in government plans to deploy fibre infrastructure or broadband to universities. Addressing infrastructure concerns, he mentioned having communicated with the Minister for Roads to prioritize road improvements on the university's campus.He remarked that the 2025 budget is a corrective measure aimed at resetting the economy, paving the way for a significant infrastructure initiative at CKT-UTAS in 2026. Despite its relatively recent establishment in 2020, Mr. Iddrisu noted the university's progress and assured continued support from the Ministry.The Minister praised President Mahama's efforts to enhance higher education quality and mentioned the operationalization of a national research fund with GHS50 million allocated to research. He also announced that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) would fully support five local Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs under the government's reset agenda.In his address to the graduates, Mr. Iddrisu urged them to serve the nation diligently and maintain their reputations. He advised them to w ork honestly and avoid corruption as they transition to corporate roles following national service.