The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) successfully held a two-day workshop on motivating higher education reforms in Ghana from April 6–7, 2025, at the Peduase Valley Resort. The workshop forms part of a GAAS project funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which aims to influence national policy through research-based recommendations.
Although the project officially ended in December 2024, the Academy received a no-cost extension to further engage stakeholders and translate key findings into actionable policy proposals. The April workshop was a direct response to this opportunity, building on momentum from the recent National Education Forum.
Participants included academic leaders, policymakers, and key stakeholders in the educational sector. Discussions opened with an overview of the project’s objectives, followed by breakout group sessions focused on critical reform areas, including the expansion and management of public universities, and the conversion of polytechnics to technical universities.
On the second day, sessions addressed pressing issues such as funding higher education, restructuring the GETFund, strengthening state-university relations, and the evolving role of private universities. These thematic sessions culminated in two plenary discussions that synthesised outcomes and proposed actionable next steps.
The workshop also marked a significant milestone in GAAS’s commitment to convening thought leaders and fostering dialogue on national development. Participants praised the initiative for its collaborative spirit and its contribution to shaping meaningful reform in Ghana’s higher education landscape.
