The Methodist, Presbyterian, and Catholic Universities have finally gained autonomy.
It follows the granting and issuance of Presidential charters to the aforementioned universities by President Akufo-Addo.
With this, the said universities can issue certificates that will not bear the names of their previous mentoring institutions.
This brings to six the number of private universities to receive charters under the Akufo-Addo-led NPP administration.
The President issued a similar charter to Ashesi University in 2018, another to the All Nations University and Pentecost University in 2020.
At a presentation ceremony at the Jubilee House, the President said the now fully fledged universities will be closely monitored to ensure that they continue to maintain the high standards that has earned them the Presidential Charters.
“Having applauded Methodist University College, Presbyterian University Colleges, and Catholic University College, for the solid work done in getting this far, it is important that I draw their attention to sector 27 of Act 1023 which states that “The President may on the recommendation of the Commission, through the Minister, revoke, vary or in any other way, amend the provisions of the charter where the President considers that the revocation, variation or amendment is in the best interest of tertiary education in the country”, he noted with caution.
As Chartered institutions, he asked them to as it were “continue to improve and to introduce more innovative programmes and courses that will equip their students with the requisite skills and competences needed to develop our country and transform progressively the economy.”
The three universities are the first to receive their charter upon the coming into effect of the new reforms which took effect upon the passage of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1023).
President Akufo-Addo therefore noted that “they have as a result, successfully gone through the rigorous accreditation and quality assurance processes under section 5, sub-section 2 of Act 1023 and the associated regulations which enjoins the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to consider the following matters in the charter appraisal process.”
On behalf of the three universities, Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University, Prof Obeng Ofori thanked the President for granting them their respective charters.
That, he said marks a very important day in the annals of the history of the three faith-based academic institutions.
He, however, made an appeal for government to support the three universities with buses to help meet their transportation needs.
There and then the President authorised the Minister for Education, Yaw Adu-Twum, who was present at the ceremony to honour the request whilst wishing them well.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent