The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has expressed concern over the politicization of tertiary campuses in Ghana.
He believes that these institutions should be havens for knowledge and intellectual discourse, not battlegrounds for partisan politics.
Speaking at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) after receiving an honorary doctorate of laws, the Asantehene emphasized the need to reverse the trend of partisanship in tertiary institutions to optimize the impact of politics on the nation’s socio-economic advancement.
He criticized the lack of meaningful collaboration between the state and universities, which he attributed to the politicization of campuses.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu called for a new relationship between the state and academia, one that involves the expertise of academics in policy formulation.
The Asantehene also highlighted the disconnect between education and the ability to solve societal problems.
He questioned the value of an education system that produces skilled graduates who cannot find jobs and a government that struggles to manage resources effectively.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu urged academia to re-evaluate the education system and correct any lapses to restore confidence in education.
He emphasized the role of universities as storehouses of knowledge and laboratories for research.
The Asantehene traced the nation’s educational reviews over the years, noting that while education has always been considered a human right and a critical requirement for socio-economic development, most reviews have been driven by austerity or fiscal constraints rather than a desire to achieve stated goals.
He acknowledged the Free Senior High School education policy as a significant social intervention but criticized its implementation for not being fully coordinated with tertiary institutions, leading to a surge in demand for undergraduate students.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu emphasized the importance of investing in education, despite its costs.
He suggested a holistic review of the educational system that considers the interface between basic, secondary, and tertiary levels, resource availability and distribution, and how to share resources across levels for enhanced quality and efficiency.
The Asantehene commended the efforts of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in establishing UCC and praised the university for maintaining its standards.
The Chancellor of UCC, Sir Sam Esson Jonah, and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, also praised Otumfuo Osei Tutu for his leadership and contributions to the nation.
The citation in honor of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II highlighted his contributions to the development of Asanteman and his commitment to promoting unity and development in Ghana.
