Former Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has vehemently denied claims by the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia that he while in office blocked the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) from getting a Medical School.
According to him, this statement exposes the NDC National Chairman as not well informed on matters pertaining to the subject matter of tertiary education In Ghana.
He explained that it is not the Minister for Education that approves and accredit programs and courses in universities as it is a function of the Ghana National Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), formerly the NCTE and the National Accreditation Board.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh noted that the Executive Director, Prof. Salifu, an appointee of former President Mahama, predated his stints at the Ministry of Education and remained in office throughout his time as Minister, so Johnson Asiedu Nketia could have easily verified this from him.
A statement signed by Kofi Abrefa Afena, the Press Aide to Dr. Prempeh asserted there was no time, during the tenure of Dr Prempeh that, a decision to establish a Medical School as alluded to by Mr. Nketia came before him even for his opinion, let alone approval.
“The processes for establishing Universities and the accreditation of Programmes and Courses have never been a ministerial decision. From the foregoing, Mr. Asedu Nketia will be pardoned for a genuine ignorance on the subject matter. However, if it was borne out of mischief and propaganda against the person of Dr. Prempeh, given the electioneering campaign season, then It is dead ab-initio because the facts speak for themselves.”
The statement further urged the general public to reject out rightly, these uninformed claims by the NDC National Chairman and treat them with the total contempt they deserve.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com