Top 5 Universities in Ghana & Their Brief History

By | January 9, 2024
Top 5 Universities in Ghana - bbcpulse.com

Ghana is a country located in the West African region of the world, with population of over 30million people. Among all the higher education institutions, here are top 5 universities in Ghana.

1. University of Ghana – Legon

The University of Ghana (UG), the premier university in Ghana, was founded as the University College of the Gold Coast.

UG was established by Ordinance on August 11, 1948 for the purpose of providing and promoting university education, learning and research.

As a University poised to distinguish itself in the area of research to make an impact at the national and international level, the University launched a Strategic Plan in 2014.

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The strategic plan (2014-2024) is intended to consolidate the gains made from the review of the University’s mission and practices.

Colleges in University of Ghana

University of Ghana is administered through a central administration which includes a collegiate system comprising the following colleges and a School of Graduate Studies.

1. College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
2. College of Education.
3. College of Health Sciences.
4. College of Humanities.

2. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – Kumasi

The University of Science and Technology succeeded the Kumasi College of Technology which was established by a Government Ordinance on 6th October, 1951.

It was however, opened officially on 22nd January, 1952 with 200 Teacher Training students transferred from Achimota, to form the nucleus of the new College.

In October, 1952, the School of Engineering and the Department of Commerce were established and the first students were admitted.

A Pharmacy Department was established in January, 1953, with the transfer of the former School of Pharmacy from Korle-Bu Hospital, Accra, to the College.

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A Department of Agriculture was opened in the same year (1953) to provide a number of ad hoc courses of varying duration, from a few terms to three years, for the Ministry of Agriculture.

Once established, the College began to grow and in 1957, the School of Architecture, Town Planning and Building was inaugurated.

Its first students were admitted in January, 1958, for professional courses in Architecture, Town Planning and Building.

The Kumasi College of Technology was then transformed into a full-fledged University.

It was then renamed as Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology by an Act of Parliament on 22nd August, 1961.

The University’s name was changed to University of Science and Technology after the Revolution of 24th February, 1966.

The University of Science and Technology was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, 20th November, 1961.

However, by another act of Parliament, Act 559 of 1998, the University has been renamed Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

3. University of Cape Coast – Cape Coast

The University of Cape Coast was established in October, 1962 as a University College and placed in a special relationship with the University of Ghana, Legon.

On October 1, 1971, the College attained the status of a full and independent University, with the authority to confer its own degrees, diplomas and certificates by an Act of Parliament.

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That is the University of Cape Coast Act, 1971 [Act 390] and subsequently the University of Cape Coast Law, 1992 [PNDC Law 278].

The University was established out of a dire need for highly qualified and skilled manpower in education.

Its original mandate was therefore to train graduate professional teachers for Ghana’s second cycle institutions and the Ministry of Education.

This was in order to meet the manpower needs of the country’s accelerated education programme at the time.

Today, with the expansion of some of its Faculties/Schools and the diversification of programmes, the University has the capacity to meet the manpower needs of other ministries and industries in the country.

Colleges in University of Cape Coast

1. Graduate Studies.

2. Education Studies.

3. Distance Education.

4. Health And Allied Sciences.

5. Humanities And Legal Studies.

6. Agriculture And Natural Sciences.

4. Ashesi University – Berekuso

Ashesi University Foundation was founded in 1997. Ashesi was established as an independent, public benefit education institution operating as nonprofit institution.

The university obtained accreditation from the National Accreditation Board (NAB) in September 2001 to operate under the mentorship of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

Ashesi began instruction on 4th March 2002. Ashesi University received a Presidential Charter from the President of Ghana, effective January 2018.

This has made it an independent university that confers its own degrees, making it part of top 5 universities in Ghana.

It is spearheaded by a well-qualified Board of Trustees and management governance whose efforts are complemented by Advisory Boards located in the US and Ghana.

Academic Departments of Ashesi University

1. Humanities and Social Sciences.

2. Business Administration.

3. Computer Science.

4. Engineering.

5. University of Education, Winneba – Winneba

The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) was established in September, 1992 as a University College under PNDC Law 322.

On 14th May, 2004, the University of Education Act, (2004) Act 672 was enacted to upgrade the status of the University College of Education of Winneba to the status of a full University.

The University College of Education of Winneba brought together seven diploma awarding colleges located in different towns under one umbrella institution.

These Colleges were the Advanced Teacher Training College, the Specialist Training College and the National Academy of Music, all at Winneba.

The School of Ghana Languages, Ajumako; the College of Special Education, Akwapim- Mampong; the Advanced Technical Training College, Kumasi; and the St. Andrews Agricultural Training College, Asante-Mampong.

Being part of top five (5) universities in Ghana, let’s see the faculties and schools in the University of Education, Winneba.

Faculties /Schools

1. Faculty of Applied Behavioural Sciences in Education.

2. Faculty of Foreign Languages Education.

3. Faculty of Ghanaian Languages Education.

4. Faculty of Health, Allied Sciences and Home Economics Education.

5. Faculty of Science Education.

6. Faculty of Social Sciences Education.

7. School of Business.

8. School of Communication and Media Studies.

9. School of Creative Arts.

10. School of Education and Life-Long Learning.

11. School of Graduate Studies.

Conclusively, even though bbcpulse.com does not have the intention of ranking the top 5 universities in Ghana, it has arranged them in order popularity.

 

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