Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah has appealed to John Dramani Mahama to take urgent steps to operationalise the abandoned Local Government University at Akomadan in the Offinso Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The facility, which was approved under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, was designed to expand access to tertiary education and build specialised capacity in local governance.
The project, funded through the District Assemblies Common Fund, boasts completed infrastructure including hostels, lecture halls and a modern auditorium.
Speaking in a series of media interviews in Kumasi, the former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), popularly known as COKA, expressed concern over the continued closure of the institution despite significant investment.
He lamented Ghana’s low university enrolment rate, noting that only about 20% of Senior High School graduates progress to tertiary institutions.
According to him, the Akufo-Addo administration had completed the entire physical infrastructure required to commence operations, with the exception of the legal framework needed to fully establish the university.
“Nana Akufo-Addo granted the executive instrument to set up the Local Government University in Akomadan to address critical needs in local governance. Unfortunately, Parliament at the time failed to pass the bill to operationalise the school,” he explained.
Mr. Appiah warned that the continued abandonment of the facility is leading to the rapid deterioration of the infrastructure, risking the loss of substantial public investment.
He further emphasised the importance of the institution in strengthening Ghana’s decentralisation agenda, arguing that the country requires trained professionals to effectively manage local governance systems and address emerging challenges.
Beyond education, Mr. Appiah noted that reopening the university would have a positive economic impact on the Akomadan area and surrounding communities by creating jobs and stimulating local business activity.
He added that the initiative could also help address unemployment concerns, particularly among the youth, by providing both direct and indirect employment opportunities.
