Prof. Kwaku Asare Defends University Programmes Against Ex-Education Minister's Criticism

Legal scholar and governance expert Prof. Kwaku Asare has publicly disagreed with former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum's recent comments dismissing certain university programmes as "useless" and "degrees to nowhere". Dr. Adutwum made the remarks during a podcast appearance, specifically questioning the relevance of Development Studies at the University for Development Studies (UDS) and BA Education (Non-Teaching) at the University of Ghana.

In response, Prof. Asare argued that such broad criticism oversimplifies the value of higher education. He acknowledged that universities must improve graduate employment outcomes, but cautioned against dismissing entire academic fields. Instead, he emphasised that university education builds transferable skills including critical thinking, communication, research, policy analysis, and problem-solving—abilities that extend far beyond direct job placement.

Prof. Asare highlighted that Development Studies graduates find employment across government institutions, NGOs, international organisations, and consulting firms, whilst BA Education (Non-Teaching) graduates contribute to education policy, curriculum design, and administration. He argued that the real measure of a university programme should not be its immediate job placement rate, but whether it equips students with skills aligned to evolving labour market demands.

The governance expert recommended stronger accountability measures in higher education, including publishing graduate employment data, regularly updating curricula, improving labour-market forecasting, and strengthening digital and analytical training across all disciplines. He also stressed that graduate unemployment cannot be blamed on universities alone, pointing out that broader economic weakness affects employment prospects across all fields—including engineering, law, medicine, and computing.

Prof. Asare concluded that sustainable improvement in graduate outcomes requires both education reform and wider economic transformation, alongside stronger political systems focused on genuine development rather than what he termed "machines of patronage, profiteering, polarisation, and propaganda".