Since taking office in 2017, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has overseen significant reforms in Ghana’s tertiary education landscape. A key feature of these reforms has been the renaming and rebranding of various public universities. While the government touts these changes as efforts to honour distinguished national figures, critics argue they reflect attempts to inscribe the ideological legacy of the NPP into the national consciousness—particularly through institutions of learning.
This article examines the public universities whose names were changed during the NPP administration and the political significance of the individuals they were renamed after.
Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS)
Formerly: UDS, Wa Campus
Year Renamed: 2020
Political Significance:
Simon Diedong Dombo was a founding member of the Northern People’s Party, a key predecessor to the NPP’s ideological tradition. His name reflects the Danquah-Busia-Dombo heritage, which underpins the NPP’s identity. By naming a northern university after Dombo, the NPP may seem to solidify its ideological roots while appealing to regional sentiments.
C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS)
Formerly: UDS, Navrongo Campus
Year Renamed: 2020
Political Significance:
C.K. Tedam was a long-serving chairman of the NPP’s Council of Elders and a political figure of the northern tradition within the party. The renaming honoured his role in party unity and northern representation within the NPP. It seems to serve as a regional political gesture in a traditionally competitive zone.
Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED)
Formerly: UEW Kumasi and Mampong Campuses
Year Renamed: 2020
Political Significance:
Appiah-Menka was a respected lawyer, businessman, and an elder statesman within the Danquah-Busia tradition. Naming a university focused on technical and entrepreneurial training after him seems to reinforce the NPP’s emphasis on private sector-led development and individual enterprise—cornerstones of its economic ideology.
Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University
Formerly: Wa Polytechnic
Year Renamed: 2018
Political Significance:
Although Dr. Hilla Limann was not affiliated with the NPP, the renaming appeared to serve a symbolic purpose—acknowledging the Upper West’s only president in Ghana’s history. This move may have been intended to win favour in a region that has historically leaned towards the NDC.
University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC)
Formerly: GIJ, GIL, and NAFTI
Year Renamed: 2020
Political Significance:
While no NPP figure was honoured by name, the merger aligns with the NPP’s broader agenda of institutional reform and streamlining. Some critics interpret this consolidation as a subtle centralisation move that could influence the media and communication narrative in favour of the government.
A Broader Political Strategy?
These renamings are not merely symbolic; they seem to embed the Danquah-Busia-Dombo political ideology into the very fabric of Ghana’s academic and civic life. By associating educational institutions with prominent NPP figures, the party may be strategically ensuring long-term ideological recognition, especially among youth and future leaders.
However, the move has not gone without controversy. The current NDC-led government, under President John Dramani Mahama, has indicated its intent to reverse some of these renamings. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced in 2025 that a bill would be introduced to restore the original names, citing the need to preserve institutional identity and non-partisan legacies in academia.
Implications of Rampant Name Changes on University Brand Identity
While the renaming of universities may serve political or commemorative purposes, frequent or ideologically-driven changes can pose serious challenges to the brand identity and institutional stability of these higher education institutions.
First, brand identity is critical in higher education, as it influences how the university is perceived by prospective students, alumni, international partners, and employers. A consistent name helps build long-term recognition, academic reputation, and trust. Sudden or politically-motivated renaming can disrupt this continuity, making it difficult for universities to maintain a coherent public image—especially on the international stage where rankings and recognitions rely on name consistency.
Second, frequent changes may undermine institutional autonomy and academic freedom, creating the impression that universities are political tools rather than neutral centres of learning. This can discourage partnerships with foreign institutions and erode public confidence in the university system.
Third, logistical challenges emerge—from rebranding all official materials (certificates, websites, legal documents) to adjusting affiliations and alumni networks. These transitions are often costly, and the financial burden typically falls on already strained university budgets or the government.
Lastly, students and graduates bear the reputational burden. Employers and international institutions may question the authenticity or continuity of academic credentials, especially if they are unaware that a name change has taken place or the new core purpose of the establishment as it may have political underpinnings.
Conclusion
In summary, while honouring national heroes is a legitimate goal; it must be balanced against the need for institutional stability and reputation, academic continuity, and brand development. A more inclusive, bipartisan framework for such decisions could protect the long-term interests of Ghana’s tertiary education sector.
The renaming of public universities in Ghana during the NPP’s tenure exemplifies how education policy can intersect with political strategy. While honouring historical figures is a global practice, in Ghana’s highly polarised context, these actions may reinforce partisanship in spaces that should promote national unity and critical inquiry. The future of these name changes—and their societal implications,remains a subject of national debate.
References
– GhanaFact.com. (2024). Fact-checking claims about university ownership in Ghana.
– AdomOnline.com. (2025). Mahama government to reverse university name changes.
– Ministry of Education, Ghana. (2020). Press releases on university name reforms
By: Patrick Apea-Danquah (Deputy Director, Institute of Education Studies)
