Prof. Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, FGA
Higher education in Ghana is at a crossroads, requiring strategic reforms to ensure accessibility, financial sustainability, and global competitiveness. Speaking at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture during the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) Founders’ Week Celebrations on November 15, 2024, Prof. Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, FGA outlined critical challenges facing the higher education sector. He also proposed forward-looking solutions to strengthen universities as engines of national development.
Prof. Tagoe emphasized the need for a differentiated higher education system, where institutions specialize in distinct academic and professional fields to promote balanced growth. He pointed out that Ghana’s universities must go beyond traditional teaching and actively contribute to economic transformation by fostering entrepreneurial universities that translate research into startups, industry collaborations, and practical solutions to national challenges.
One of his major concerns was the inequitable distribution of tertiary institutions across the country. With a high concentration in Greater Accra, regions such as the Ashanti Region remain underserved, limiting access to quality higher education. To address this, he urged policymakers to introduce incentives that would encourage private universities to expand into less-served regions, ensuring broader access for students nationwide.
Funding challenges were another focal point of his address. Prof. Tagoe called for a review of the GETFund concept and stressed the importance of diversifying funding sources to ensure financial sustainability in the sector. Strengthening academic-industry partnerships, he argued, would enable universities to generate revenue while equipping graduates with ICT, leadership, and 21st-century skills that prepare them to be job creators rather than job seekers.
Beyond national concerns, he highlighted the importance of internationalization, stating that global collaboration, research excellence, and academic-industry linkages are essential to keeping Ghanaian universities competitive on the world stage. Expanding such networks would elevate Ghana’s position in global knowledge production and ensure that its higher education institutions remain relevant in an increasingly interconnected world.
Prof. Tagoe’s presentation was both a critical analysis and a call to action. While Ghana has made significant strides in expanding its higher education sector, he believes that bold reforms, innovative governance, and stronger industry-academic partnerships are essential to overcoming persistent challenges. His vision is for universities to become more innovative, inclusive, and globally competitive, not only producing graduates but actively shaping Ghana’s economic and social landscape.
As Ghana continues to navigate the complexities of higher education, his insights provide a clear roadmap for sustainable reform, ensuring that universities are well-positioned to equip future generations with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. As part of its commitment to advancing knowledge and policy discourse, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences continues to facilitate high-level discussions, research collaborations, and advocacy efforts aimed at shaping policies that enhance higher education in Ghana.5
