The Asogli State Council is opposed to the government’s proposal to rename Ho Technical University (HTU) after Dr Ephraim Amu.
At a press conference on Monday, April 22, 2024, a representative of the council, Togbe Adzi Lakle Howusu XII expressed strong opposition to the renewed renaming plans by the government and the university’s governing council without the custodians of the land.
He described the move as regrettable, ill-conceived, and disrespectful, as it failed to consider the perspectives of those directly affected.
“Our attention has once again been drawn to attempts by authorities of the Ho Technical University and the government to rename the institute to Dr. Ephraim Amu Technical Institute. The Asogli State Council wishes to reaffirm our strong opposition to the government’s decision to rename the university without consulting the chiefs and people of Ho.
“The Asogli State Council views the decision to rename the institution without due consultation as an unfortunate, misplaced, and disrespectful decision,” Togbe Adzi Lakle Howusu XII said.
This is the second presser to register the chiefs’ disapproval of the unilateral decision to rename the institution.
In August 2018, President Akufo-Addo initially announced the government’s intention to rename the university after Dr. Ephraim Amu, the great musicologist from Peki.
He disclosed this at the 50th anniversary celebration of the university.
He said the HTU council took the decision and he gave his blessings to it.
However, the Registrar for the institution, Dr Christopher Amehoe in February 2019, announced that the renaming had been put on hold following agitation by the Asogli chiefs.
He said both parties were making efforts to come to a consensus on the matter.