Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ghanaian Times
Published on 2024-02-23 15:30:00
A number of private tertiary educational institutions in Ghana are facing the risk of closure due to their failure to meet certain requirements, according to the acting Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof Ahmed Jinapor. The GTEC Act of 2023 mandates that all private tertiary educational institutions must charter or demonstrate evidence towards achieving charter status by August 31, 2024 in order to continue operating.
Speaking at the opening of the 9th Association of West African Universities Conference in Cape Coast, Prof Jinapor highlighted the importance of promoting quality tertiary education in West Africa through collaboration, regional integration, and technology. The conference, attended by academics from universities across the West African sub-region, aims to address key issues in the education sector.
In Ghana, there are a total of 310 tertiary education institutions registered with GTEC, with 128 being private institutions and the rest public. Of these, 77 private universities have applied for charter status, with 43 ready to charter, 21 willing to charter within two years, and some facing distress conditions and recommended for closure.
Prof Jinapor emphasized the significance of accreditation as a basic requirement for quality assurance in tertiary education. He urged all stakeholders in the private tertiary education sector to take the chartering process seriously, as non-compliance could lead to closure once the deadline stipulated in the law expires.
The Commission believes that collaboration, regional integration, and technology play a crucial role in ensuring the delivery of quality tertiary education. The current leadership of GTEC aims to position tertiary education as a catalyst for foreign resource mobilization in the Ghanaian economy in the near future.
Promoting tertiary education in the West African sub-region requires collective efforts from all stakeholders, with the conference serving as a platform for advancing this objective. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof Johnson Nyarko Boampong, emphasized the importance of quality higher education in national development.
He highlighted the need for collaboration and strategic networking in a rapidly changing world, stating that no individual or institution can achieve success in isolation. Prof Boampong called on universities in the sub-region to strengthen regional bonds and work together towards common goals.
He also emphasized the importance of African countries taking control of their own destiny and reducing dependence on foreign aid. The time for integration in the continent is crucial, as Africa must move away from the “dependency syndrome” and build a self-reliant future.
In conclusion, the conference in Cape Coast serves as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among universities in the West African sub-region, with a focus on promoting quality tertiary education through joint efforts and partnerships.
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