UoG’s Vision To Be A Research-intensive University Has Government’s Support

President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has assured the leadership of the University of Ghana (UoG) that his administration will offer the country’s premier university, all the support it needs as it positions the institution to become a research-intensive university.

Addressing management, staff and students of the University of Ghana at the Bank of Ghana hall, under the theme for the 75th anniversary of the university; “Nurturing Resilience: Adopting Technology, Embracing Humanism,” today 11 August 2023, President Akufo-Addo urged the university to also target ways to foster effective ties with industry and the corporate space in the country.

“75 years in the life of an institution is no mean feat. From modest beginning in 1948, housed in the premises of Achimota College, the university college of Gold Coast as it was then known, has evolved into one of Africa’s leading universities.

“Today, there is worldwide recognition for the excellence of the university’s faculty and students and for the professional successes choaked by her alumina both at home and abroad. Over the years, the university has lived up to its mission of developing world-class human resources and capabilities to meet our nations development needs and global challenges” President said.

“The university continues to be the center of many scientific and technological innovations. The diversity of this research efforts and output in various disciplines, including social sciences, law, natural sciences, medicine, agriculture, environment, and energy, have been internationally acclaimed. My government fully supports and shares in your vision to become a research-intensive university, and we will do all in our power to help you realize it.

“I ask the university of Ghana and all tertiary institutions in the country to find innovative and effective ways of linking up with industry and the corporate world to engage in quality strategic research targeted at finding practical solutions to real life challenges of our society and thereby help actualize research findings to the benefit of our country and its citizenry” Akufo-Addo further remarked.

Call for reflection

President Akufo-Addo ended his address by asking his audience to reflect again on the famous anthem of the University of Ghana as the institution celebrates its 75th anniversary, which was composed by professor J.H. Nketiah.

“Hail University of Ghana, the nation’s hope and glory. The place that bears the star of peace. That bids us all to do our best. Let the great tower of learning inspire both young and old. May we proceed in unity to uphold the public cause. Arise, arise O Legon, defend the cause of freedom, proceed in truth and integrity to make our nation proud,” President Akufo-Addo said.

The president also pledged to contribute to the 75th anniversary legacy project announced by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, which is expected to be built on the university campus.

University of Ghana

Over the years, the University of Ghana has built a reputation as an academically strong institution, making it one of the preferred choices for academics, researchers, and students on the Continent.

On October 26, 2021, the University of Ghana, inducted Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo into office, as its 13th and first female Vice-Chancellor. During the ceremony, she shared her vision to ‘create a culture that promotes research, teaching and learning, administrative processes and extension activities driven by technology and anchored in humanism’.

The vision of the Vice-Chancellor as shared by her during her investiture, supports the achievement of the University’s overall vision of becoming a “world-class research-intensive university”.

The ideals contained in her vision have guided the implementation of key activities in the University till date, including the launch of the ‘Vice-Chancellor’s Programme for Enhancing the UG Student Experience through Digitalisation’.

The University of Ghana is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The year-long anniversary is aimed at celebrating the University’s achievements and perseverance through years of unprecedented change.

The theme for the 75th anniversary celebration, ‘Nurturing Resilience: Adopting Technology, Embracing Humanism’ is born from the vision of the Vice-Chancellor, which also takes its direction from the University’s vision, and from the multiple and rapid changes occurring in Africa and our global world today, especially in higher education.

The University of Ghana can claim numerous achievements in research; teaching and learning; and community engagement and service locally and globally over the past 75 years. These are a testament to the university’s creativity, innovation as well its ability to withstand change and thrive despite local and global challenges in the higher education sector.

Recently, the University was ranked Ghana’s highest tertiary institution by the Alper-Doger (AD) Scientific Index 2022 Version 2 with more than 270 scientists from the University appearing in the top 1000 scientists featured.

This follows from the Webometrics ranking of the University of Ghana as first in Ghana, 11th in sub-Saharan Africa and 1,121 in the world – out of 31,000 Higher Education Institutions from more than 200 countries earlier this year.

Furthermore, in its 2022 ranking, the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings which is one of the three most-widely read university rankings in the world and receives approval from the International Ranking Expert Group (IREG), classified the University of Ghana among the top 20 universities in Africa, the only West African university to be so classified.

From Wilberforce Asare