Political analyst, Ayam Atura has criticised the government’s decision to rename public educational institutions, warning that the practice risks further deepening political divisions in the country.
Atura was reacting to Parliament’s recent approval of amendments changing the names of three public universities namely; the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo; the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa; and the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Monday, December 22, Atura argued that naming public institutions after individuals should be guided strictly by objective assessments of their contributions to national development, rather than partisan considerations.
“The practice of making these changes is deepening our political divide, where everything is seen through an NPP or NDC lens,” he said.
According to him, many individuals have contributed significantly to the country’s development, and frequent changes to institutional names risk diminishing their legacies and fuelling unnecessary political tension.
“The discussion we should be having is whether the person being honoured truly deserves that recognition. If, after an objective assessment, it is found to be inappropriate, then a change can be justified” – Atura stated.
He further cautioned that the circumstances surrounding the latest name changes could set a precedent for future governments to reverse similar decisions, creating an endless cycle of renaming public institutions.
Atura called for a more bipartisan and nationally grounded approach to decisions of such significance, stressing that education should unite rather than divide the country.
Mike 105.3 FM | Navrongo | David Adapuna
