Higher Education at Risk Without Sustainable Funding – UG Vice-Chancellor

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has warned that higher education in Ghana is at risk due to funding challenges. 

Speaking at the recent National Higher Education Forum in Ho, she highlighted that government subventions, foreign grants and student fees are insufficient to sustain universities, making it difficult to maintain infrastructure, support research and expand academic programmes. She called for urgent reforms to secure sustainable financing for higher education.

Prof. Amfo outlined several solutions, including increased private sector investment, expanding online programmes and introducing a dual-track fee system to ensure financial flexibility. 

She also advocated for the operationalisation of the National Research Fund, more GETFund scholarships for local students and retrofitting university buildings with sustainable energy sources to reduce operational costs. “Our universities must lead in research and innovation, but without sustainable funding, this will not be possible,” she stressed.

The two-day National Higher Education Forum, themed "Transforming Education for a Sustainable Future," provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss Ghana’s education system. 

President John Dramani Mahama, speaking on the first day, reiterated the need for urgent reforms in education funding, infrastructure, and quality. Other speakers, including Togbe Afede XIV and Education Minister Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, called for stronger policies to equip students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world.