NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS A RESET: THE COSTLY RENAMING OF AAMUSTED

 The government’s decision to rename Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) as the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (USTED) is a troubling example of how political symbolism is being allowed to override sound judgment in Ghana’s higher education sector.

The government came into office on a widely advertised “reset agenda,” pledging to fix broken systems and reposition the country for growth. While reform is necessary, the belief that everything inherited must be reset is misguided. Some institutions require stability, not disruption and AAMUSTED clearly falls into that category.

Akenten Appiah-Menka was a respected Ghanaian lawyer and entrepreneur whose contributions to Ghanaian entrepreneurship were widely acknowledged.

 Naming the university after him was not a partisan act but a national recognition of service. Stripping the institution of his name adds no academic value and sets a worrying precedent of erasing legacies for political convenience.

Supporters of the renaming may argue that the university’s former name was too long. While that criticism may have some merit, it is hardly a compelling reason for such a drastic change. The name, though lengthy, has already been widely publicised and accepted. Students, parents, employers, academic partners, and the general public have become familiar with AAMUSTED and the institution has begun to build recognition around that identity. Changing the name at this stage risks undoing years of awareness and credibility that have only just begun to take root.

More critically, AAMUSTED is a young university that has already spent its meagre resources branding itself. Signage, academic materials, letterheads, stamps, websites, and promotional materials have all been produced under the existing name. Forcing a sudden rebranding exercise imposes an unnecessary financial burden on an institution still struggling to consolidate its academic and infrastructural base. In a period of tight public finances, this decision appears both wasteful and ill-timed.

The decision also highlights the need for meaningful stakeholder consultation in higher education governance. Universities are complex institutions whose decisions affect students, staff, alumni, and industry partners. Such consultations should not be limited to political directions or ministerial preferences; they must consider the views of those who live and work within the university, and who rely on its stability and reputation. Ignoring these voices risks alienating key stakeholders and undermining confidence in the institution.

Finally, the renaming raises broader concerns about academic institutional continuity and stability. Universities are meant to be centres of continuity, not casualties of political transitions. When higher education institutions are subjected to frequent politically motivated changes, it undermines long-term planning and weakens confidence among international partners and accreditation bodies.

Ghana’s development will not be accelerated by renaming institutions or constantly resetting symbols of progress. It will be achieved by investing in people, infrastructure and ideas. The reset agenda must be exercised with restraint and wisdom. Not everything needs to be reset, especially when continuity, identity, and stakeholder engagement are part of the solution, not the problem.

Dr. Francis Kofi Bih