GRASAG laud Akufo-Addo Over Establishment of Open University

The Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) National has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his new decision taken to facilitate the establishment of an Open University in Ghana.

It could be recalled that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his state of the nation address on 9 March, said that, 64 years after independence, “We still do not have the critical mass of tertiary education graduates that are required for our socio-economic transformation.

“We must, therefore, introduce measures to increase, consciously, the proportion of our population with relevant tertiary education to accelerate the transformation of our country.”

“This will be achieved by significantly increasing enrolment in existing public and private universities and through the establishment of an Open University. We expect record numbers of enrolment over the next four years,” he said

As a result, GRASAG has pointed out that, this announcement by the President in his State of the Nation Address answers years of their advocacy.

The Association noted that Ghana will join the league of countries running Open Universities including India, Israel, and the United Kingdom.

 GRASAG said in the epoch of COVID-19, an Open University will facilitate virtual enrolment, lecture delivery, certification and will ensure affordability.

In a statement signed and issued by the National President of GRASAG Ms.Heartwill Selasi Tamekloe and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Association, Mr. Ebenezer Yao Agbenyo on behalf of the Association stated that the physical contacts and stress will be minimized.

The statement which was copied to Soireenews.com posited that an Open University will contribute to increasing Ghana’s Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio currently which stands at 18.8%.

"As the official mouthpiece of the research fraternity of the country, we assure the government of our unflinching support, readiness, and willingness to ensure that this idea is realised," the statement noted

"The association has lessons to share from its experience running webinars and online conferences," it added.

To this end, the statement appealed to the President and the Ministry of Education to extend the laptop distribution programme to graduate students.

According to the statement, this will enhance "our role as partners in national development through research and practice, and also enable our members to benefit fully from the services of the Open University and other webinars."

The statement wished the President and his administration the very best in their second term.

 Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater Accra Region