Vice Chancellors Ghana Holds Maiden Higher Education Conference

University Officials at the maiden edition of the Higher Education Conference

Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG) has held its maiden Higher Education Conference on the theme, “Funding Public Universities in Africa – The New Paradigm” at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana. The conference which spanned two days from 5th – 6th April, 2018 discussed and recommended innovative ways of funding tertiary education.

In his keynote address, the Minister of State for Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah lauded the initiative by the Vice-Chancellors of Ghana to brainstorm innovative ways of funding higher education, saying it is key to ensuring the sustainability of the universities. According to him, deliberations on such a topic must pave way for partnerships and an ambitious plan towards a Ghana without Aid. He mentioned that fierce competition among global issues regarding food security, health care, environmental challenges and poverty are having a ripple effect on local economies and constraining governments the world over to pull-back on public spending. Prof. Yankah noted that funding higher education had undergone several policy changes as a result of the need to reduce the cost burden on Government. He therefore challenged the universities to strive towards a radical shift in paradigm that will perpetually confront issues of funding public universities. 

Professor Kwesi Yankah giving the keynote address

Earlier, Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye, Chairman of Vice Chancellors Ghana and Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, in his opening remarks, said the choice of the theme was in direct response to the emerging trends that have impacted on the sustained advancement and survival of public universities globally. He stated that since 2011, universities had depended heavily on their Internally Generated Funds (IGFs) for recurrent and capital expenditure due to government’s inability to provide the full complement of their budgets. Prof. Teye noted that 76% of revenue received by the universities were accumulated from student fees and charges.

Speaking on government’s free Senior High School initiative, Prof. Teye said, although the universities have been overwhelmed with issues of inadequate infrastructure and budgetary constraints, they were re-positioning themselves to respond effectively to the success of the programme. He however lamented over government’s call for the retention of 34% of IGFs from Public institutions and called on government to revisit the Akosombo Accord which discussed the cost sharing modules among government, the universities IGFs, private individuals, organisations and the students.

Participants on the first day, had the opportunity to deliberate on a presentation on the topic “Political Power, Academic Freedom and the Future of University Governance” presented by Prof. Stephen Adei, former Rector of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and another presentation by Prof. D. D. Kuupole, former Vice-Chancellor, UCC on “Funding University education: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

On the second day, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Illorin, Nigeria presented on “Exploration of alternative sources of funding public universities in Africa” while Prof. George K. T. Oduro, Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Cape Coast (UCC) presented “Dwindling Budgetary Allocations: Implication for Quality Education”.

The second day also witnessed a round table discussion on, “Internal sustenance strategies for funding universities” co-facilitated by Prof. Stephen Adei (former Rector, GIMPA) Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu (Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana), Prof. A. Feehi Okoe Amartey (Vice Chancellor, University of Professional Studies, Accra), Prof. K. Obiri-Danso (Vice Chancellor, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) and Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye (Vice Chancellor, University for Development Studies).

The Conference brought together over thirty leaders in higher education with active participation of all ten public universities under the VCG.