On April 25, 2024, the Department of Distance Education organised a research project dissemination seminar on the theme: State of Higher Education Infrastructure Financing in Ghana: Challenges and Strategies. After the welcome address by the moderator, Dr. Araba Osei-Tutu provided a brief background to the research project. She mentioned that the research idea was birthed about two years ago, and the research process involved a systematic literature review using key informant interviews with educational stakeholders in selected public tertiary universities. In his opening remarks, the head of the Department of Distance Education, Professor Samuel Amponsah, informed participants that the research project was a culmination of a departmental grant from the College of Education Research Board. The project team was interdisciplinary, comprising faculty members with diverse backgrounds within the College of Education. Regarding the project outcomes, he averred that a systematic review of the infrastructural financing mechanisms had been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal, and two other manuscripts were forthcoming.
The first presentation, led by Mr Joseph Bawa, delved into a 'Collection of voices on higher educational access, quality and equity in Africa '. This presentation, which was a crucial part of the research project, aimed to answer several key questions: What policies are in place across the continent to increase access to Higher Education (HE)? What policies are in place to address equity issues in HE related to gender, class, region, disability, age and ethnicity? What are the measures put in place to ensure quality education? What is the continental voice on challenges encountered in meeting these three important educational goals, and what strategies can be adopted to mitigate these challenges? By adopting a systematic review approach with literature spanning two decades, the themes that emerged showed a general infrastructure deficit and access to quality resources, Regional, Gender, Age, Ethnic, Physical and racial disparities, privatisation of higher education and cost-sharing in public universities and weak enforcement of quality assurance measures.
Based on the systematic review findings, key informant interviews were held with stakeholders in the education sector, specifically stakeholders in public tertiary universities and state agencies, who played a crucial role in the research project by [specific role]. These stakeholders were instrumental in assessing their perspectives on mechanisms of infrastructural financing in the higher education sector. In his delivery, the second presenter, Mr Anthony Ayim, reported that the main financing mechanisms for infrastructure development in public tertiary institutions were internally generated funds, GETFund, donations from philanthropists and private organisations and alumni. He continued that challenges with infrastructural financing cut across inadequacy of funds from the government purse, lack of innovative funding mechanisms and an over-dependence on historical funding sources, little private sector involvement, lack of financial autonomy and ineffective leadership. Some pathways for navigating the identified challenges were proposed, such as efficiency in administrative processes, lobbying and advocacy, institutional priority and strategic allocations and strengthening the avenues for IGFs.
In his concluding remarks, the presenter emphasised the pivotal role of the stakeholders in overcoming the funding challenges to achieve the desired advancements in education in Ghana. He suggested that higher education (HE) institutions should develop the innovation and agency needed to wean themselves off GoG funds, and this could be achieved through the collective efforts of all stakeholders. The constructive engagements that followed the presentations were a testament to the stakeholders' commitment and shared responsibility. The seminar, which was held in a hybrid format (in-person and online), saw the active participation of the Provost of the College of Education, College Secretary, Heads of Departments, unit heads, faculty, staff, and students, further highlighting the collective nature of this endeavour. The event was chaired by Mr. Ebenezer Odame Darkwah.
