Sunyani: Professor Matthew Glover Addo, the Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) in the Bono Region, has voiced concerns over the challenges facing private universities due to unattractive conditions of service. He highlighted that the Single Spine Salary Structure and subsequent payment of research allowances to public institution faculties have exacerbated recruitment and retention difficulties for private institutions.
According to Ghana News Agency, Prof. Addo shared these insights during his official induction ceremony at the CUG's main campus in Fiapre, Sunyani West Municipality. He emphasized that the poor conditions of service have contributed to high staff attrition rates in private universities. Additionally, Prof. Addo expressed concerns about several administrative and leadership challenges at CUG, including weak financial health, lack of a functional Endowment Fund, and stiff competition from other universities in the region, which hinder the university's growth and development.
Prof. Addo further pointed out the lack of modern infrastructure, such as libraries, ICT facilities, and adequate student accommodation, as well as large class sizes due to insufficient staff, as significant hurdles. He noted that these challenges are intensified by the absence of government support for private universities, leading to a reliance on good governance, leadership, and innovation to manage the institutions effectively.
Despite these obstacles, Prof. Addo acknowledged the progress made by CUG, particularly after receiving the Presidential Charter, which enhanced its relevance in educational pedagogies and quality assurance. The Most Reverend Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum urged the university community to support Prof. Addo in advancing the institution's development, emphasizing collaborative efforts for continued success.
Prof. Daniels Obeng-Ofori, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, encouraged Prof. Addo to adopt a collaborative leadership style, valuing diverse staff contributions to propel the university's growth. Established by the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, CUG aims to make a distinctive contribution to national development and has grown from a modest beginning to a student population of over 7,451 over 22 years.