The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has inaugurated the newly constituted Council of the Accra Technical University (ATU) in Accra, charging them to take urgent steps to address pressing leadership and developmental gaps within the institution.
In his address, Hon. Iddrisu congratulated the Chair and members of the Council on their appointment, emphasizing the President’s confidence in their academic and professional stature. He highlighted the critical need to fill the long-standing vacancy in the Vice-Chancellor position, which he described as having implications for effective governance and institutional progress.
“I’m reliably informed the institution has been without a Vice-Chancellor for the past two years. That vacancy necessarily affects management. I trust the Council will treat this as an urgent matter, but also ensure due process is followed,” he stated.
The Minister further reminded the Council of ATU’s strategic mandate in technical and vocational training, urging them to rebrand technical education as a viable and respectable alternative to traditional academic pathways. He also lauded the University’s progress in launching 12 Master’s and 24 BTEC programmes.
Hon. Iddrisu drew attention to uncompleted infrastructure projects at ATU, particularly an administrative block that is 85% complete. He assured the Council of government’s support to finish the project, while also calling out previous governments for failing to uphold Article 35(7) of the Constitution, which mandates continuity in state projects.
The Minister stressed the importance of building a skilled workforce for national development, lamenting the increasing reliance on artisans from neighbouring countries for technical jobs while local youth remain unemployed. “Let us not see technical education as reserved for the less academically inclined,” he urged.
In response, the Council Chair, Professor Abuji, thanked the Minister for the trust placed in them. He echoed the Minister’s concerns about the vacant Vice-Chancellorship and promised the Council would act swiftly but responsibly.
He expressed confidence in ATU’s potential, especially in light of global technological shifts. “Eight of the ten biggest companies today did not exist in 2000 — and they are all tech-based. This shows the immense opportunity for ATU if we harness our resources properly,” he said.
Professor Abuji also assured the Minister of the Council’s commitment to excellence and promised to return with a positive report on their stewardship.
The event concluded with a group photograph and renewed optimism for a revitalised future for the Accra Technical University.
