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Former Education Minister's "useless degrees" comment sparks debate among Ghanaian personalities
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Former Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum's remarks, labeling some university programs as "useless" and "degrees to nowhere," have ignited a significant debate. Dr. Adutwum specifically criticized Development Studies and BA Education Non-Teaching programs, asserting they fail to prepare graduates for the job market and accused universities of prioritizing enrollment over labor market demands. This has drawn reactions from various figures. Legal scholar Professor Kwaku Asare argued that graduate unemployment stems from economic structural weaknesses, not academic disciplines. Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni attributed the issue to governance failures rather than "useless" courses. Academician Dr. George Asiamah emphasized that higher education's purpose extends beyond immediate job prospects, focusing on critical thinking. Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, called for a balanced discussion, advocating for practical skills in all degree programs and comprehensive education reforms. Activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor offered a philosophical perspective, stating that a degree's value lies in its application towards societal liberation and advancement. The controversy has reignited discussions on university education's relevance, graduate employability, curriculum reforms, and the roles of government, educational institutions, and the private sector.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Professor Enoch Opoku Antwi, former Dean at Academic City University College, has urged parents to hold the West African Examinations Council WAEC fully responsible for examination leakages. He argues that a credible assessment system should prevent such occurrences, drawing parallels to his experience with Pearson in the United States. Prof. Antwi stated that if examinations leak, the body managing the exam, in this case WAEC, should be blamed. He suggested that parents should consider suing WAEC when leakages compromise the integrity of examinations, especially when students have studied diligently. Furthermore, Prof. Antwi advocated for reforms to Ghana's examination system, proposing that introducing competition by allowing other examination bodies could enhance efficiency and accountability. He believes that WAEC's current monopoly reduces the incentive to improve standards and address recurring challenges, calling for reforms to boost transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the examination system.
Accra's waste management crisis is exacerbated by the daily generation of an estimated 4,400 tonnes of waste and the absence of a final disposal site within the capital, according to the Environmental Service Providers Association ESPA. ESPA Executive Secretary Ama Ofori Antwi stated that waste collection companies must transport refuse to Nsawam, a long journey compounded by poor road conditions, which reduces the number of daily trips refuse trucks can make from three to one. This situation slows waste evacuation and leads to refuse accumulation. Antwi also attributed the sanitation challenges to the suspension of public cleansing activities and irregular desilting of drains over the past two years. She emphasized that flood prevention requires daily waste management and not just reactive measures after heavy rains. Antwi called for sustained public cleansing, routine drain desilting, improved waste disposal infrastructure, and enhanced collaboration between metropolitan assemblies and private waste management companies, advocating for a long-term public-private partnership with continuous investment to manage Accra's daily waste and mitigate recurring flooding.
The Accra High Court is scheduled to hear a habeas corpus application on Friday, July 10, challenging the detention of Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company. The application, filed in the specialized division of the High Court, seeks an order for the Director of the Bureau of National Intelligence and the Attorney-General to present Aludiba to the court and explain the legal basis for his detention. Aludiba was arrested by armed operatives at the Accra International Airport on Saturday, July 4, 2026, while preparing to travel abroad for medical treatment under a court-approved arrangement. His lawyer, Godfred Yeboah Dame, confirmed the hearing date but stated his intention to seek an earlier hearing, arguing that the current date is too distant given the circumstances. Dame also raised concerns about his client's continued detention without access to legal representation and questioned the legal grounds for the arrest, noting that Aludiba has not been charged or subjected to any formal application justifying his detention.