By: Shallon S. Gonlor |
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
GOMPA CITY, Nimba County — Hundreds of students enrolled at Prince Yormie Johnson Polytechnic University (PYJ Polytechnic) are overwhelmed with excitement as they spearhead a vigorous campus clean-up campaign, signaling a fresh reopening set after years of academic inactivity.
During the week, prospective and current students and administrators came together in numbers, gearing up for the new Academic 2026 Semester.
PYJ Polytechnic University, situated in Ganta City is set to resume academic activities in May 2026, offering hope to prospective and returning students alike.
The university’s reopening is a testament to the efforts of stakeholders, including Senator Saah Joseph, who vowed to reopen the institution by February 2026. The move is expected to revive higher education opportunities in Nimba County and preserve Senator Johnson’s educational legacy.
The campus has been closed since November 2024 following Senator Johnson’s death. PYJ Polytechnic University boasts several facilities, including academic buildings, a library, staff quarters, a female dormitory, a cafeteria, a radio station, and a mini gymnasium. Construction on the gymnasium had stalled.
The university faced severe financial challenges before the late Senator Johnson’s death on November 28, 2024. These challenges were compounded by staff go-slows over low wages and inadequate benefits, which frequently sparked student demonstrations in support of their instructors.
In early November 2024, Senator Johnson personally intervened, meeting with staff and students to resolve the tensions and resume academic operations. However, his untimely death prevented the resolution from taking effect, intensifying the crisis and sparking disputes among his family over the university’s future.
In October 2025, the Prince Y. Johnson Polytechnic University was reportedly up for sale, generating widespread opposition in Nimba County, with many citizens voicing their concerns about the potential impact on the community and the legacy of the late senator.
Established in 2014 by Senator Johnson, with immediate functioning in 2021, the university becomes a symbol of Senator Johnson’s legacy in Nimba County.
The PYJ Polytechnic University was pronounced for sale to BASILEIA Industrial University, a US-affiliated institution.
Critics, predominantly kinsmen of the late Senator PYJ argued that the sale is motivated by personal interests rather than the best interests of the university and its students.
The proposal exposed deep divisions within the Johnson family, with Senator Johnson’s widow, Mrs. Ameria Boyidee Aridi Johnson, and several of his children holding opposing views on the matter.
During the ensuing uncertainty, the campus largely fell into disuse, leading to public frustration directed at both the family and local leadership, including Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, for perceived delays in resolving the university’s fate.
The announcement of the university’s reopening has been met with excitement, particularly among students and supporters of Senator Johnson’s political movement, the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction.
With academic programs set to restart, the reopening of PYJ Polytechnic University signals a revival of higher education opportunities in Nimba County and the preservation of Senator Johnson’s educational legacy.
