By Stanley Kwabla Arku
Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has expressed deep concern over the prolonged vacancy in the Vice Chancellor position at Accra Technical University (ATU), describing the two-year leadership gap as a matter requiring urgent attention.
Addressing the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the university, the Minister stressed that the absence of a substantive Vice Chancellor is undermining effective management and progress at the institution. He charged the board to prioritize resolving the issue without delay.
“I am reliably informed that the institution has not had a Vice Chancellor in the last two years, and that vacancy is certainly affecting management. I trust you will consider it as a matter requiring urgent action and immediate attention,” he said.
Hon. Iddrisu acknowledged the board’s commitment to due process and transparency but urged swift and decisive steps to restore full leadership at ATU.
In a broader call, the Minister also used the occasion to advocate for a national shift in mindset towards Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). He urged Ghanaians to stop viewing technical education as a fallback for students who do not perform well in traditional academic settings.
“We must stop treating technical education as a reserve or last option,” he stated. “It should be seen as an equally valuable pathway that offers practical skills and career readiness for the 21st-century economy.”
He called on the newly constituted board to spearhead reforms that will not only improve the quality of education at ATU but also elevate the status of technical education nationwide.
The Minister stated government’s commitment to equipping technical institutions with the necessary resources to deliver world-class training and produce graduates who are ready for the demands of industry.
The new ATU Governing Board is tasked with providing strategic leadership and oversight to reposition the university as a hub for innovation, skills development, and national transformation.