William Atuguba: Ex-Supreme court judge sworn in as UCC Council Chair
The ceremony was conducted by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to respecting the independence of public universities
Former Supreme Court Judge Justice William Atuguba has been sworn in as the new Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), pledging to fiercely defend the academic freedom of Ghana’s public universities.
At a ceremony in Accra on Monday (29 April) Justice Atuguba warned against any form of governmental interference in the management of higher education institutions, describing academic freedom as “vital to national progress.”
“I am glad to hear the Minister assure that their government will not interfere with academic freedom,” he said.
“I wish to emphasize it is very important… I personally will strive to reinstate in full, academic freedom in this country.”
Justice Atuguba, who retired from the Supreme Court in 2018, recalled that during his time on the bench he had spoken out publicly against attempts to undermine university autonomy.
“In Ghana, rumors are not empty,” he added, alluding to past concerns over executive intrusion into academic affairs.
The ceremony was conducted by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to respecting the independence of public universities.
“Be assured, as I have continuously said, that President Mahama will not interfere with the academic freedom in any university,” Mr Iddrisu stated.
He also criticised the previous administration, accusing it of attempting to undermine the autonomy of academic institutions, although he did not provide specific examples.
In a related development, Mr Iddrisu also inaugurated the new Governing Council of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), where he urged members to foster unity on campus.
“Conflict between Council and Vice Chancellor is not healthy for an institution like UPSA,” he said. “There may be systemic inefficiencies, but at least we have addressed some of those issues. Matters such as the appointment of a Vice Chancellor must be handled in-house with respect for due process and the rule of law.”
The newly appointed Chairman of the UPSA Council, Dr Harry Agbanu, pledged to work towards resolving tensions between faculty and management.
“In spite of the numerous problems confronting the institution, we are determined to work collaboratively to resolve these issues so UPSA can move forward with determination,” he said.
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