The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu says suicide cases reported by the media are negatively affecting university enrollment in the country.
According to him, sensational stories being published by the media outlets about the universities in recent times in the country are driving away foreign students from studying in the country.
“When the international students read such sensational stories on the internet about Ghana’s universities, they don’t even apply to study in the country which is not healthy for the nation” he stressed.
“The media like sensationalism but they must also report good stories about the universities in the country to sell our great heritage as a country” Prof. Oduro tells the media.
Prof. Oduro’s comment follows the recent death of a Consumer Science student of Legon, Jennifer Nyarko who allegedly jumped from the fourth floor of her Akuafo Hall Annex A and the death of a first-year Chemical Engineering student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who also committed suicide.
But speaking with Adom News at the media briefing ahead of the 14th General Conference and Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Association of African Universities (AAU), Prof. Oduro Owusu pleads with the media houses to be cautious with such stories and project the good news about the schools as well.
The celebration is under the theme AAU at 50, Achievements, challenges and Prospects for Sustainable Development in Africa,
Prof. Oduro Owusu also called on African leaders to invest more in education to ensure development of the continent.
Meanwhile, a Board Member of the Association of African Universities (AAU), Prof Domwini Dabire Kuupole says the Polytechnics which were recently converted to Technical universities should focus on its mandate to reduce graduates unemployment in the country.
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