The University of Ghana (UG) executed 133 research agreements valued at more than $41 million in 2025, demonstrating a global confidence in its research capacity.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, disclosed the achievement at a congregational ceremony of the College of Humanities held yesterday.
She said the university continued to make progress under its 2024–2029 strategic plan, which focused on a transformative student experience, impactful research, commitment to faculty and staff, engagement and partnerships, and sustainable resource mobilisation.
A total of 15,288 graduates are expected to be awarded a degree in 17 sessions from the four colleges of the university.
They are the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Health Sciences and the College of Humanities.
The graduates comprise 153 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidates, 14,197 graduate (masters) students, 10,543 undergraduates and 395 diploma students.
For the 2025–2026 academic year, she said the university admitted 16,498 undergraduates and 6,651 graduate students to expand access, equity and academic excellence.
She added that the automation of academic and administrative processes across units was improving efficiency and service delivery.
Achievements
Speaking on other achievements, Prof. Appiah Amfo said UG remained the highest ranked University in Ghana and West Africa in the 2026 QS World University Rankings and was Ghana’s top-performing institution in the 2026 Times Higher Education rankings in areas such as research, industry engagement, environment and international outlook.
She said the university, in collaboration with the Students’ Representative Council and the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana, had initiated a hostel project to provide 5,000 beds, while preliminary work had begun on a 10,000-bed facility through a public-private partnership using prefabricated technology.
The Vice-Chancellor also mentioned the commissioning of an innovative enclave in partnership with institutions, including Imperial College London, to provide a makerspace for students and researchers to develop solutions to development challenges.
Collective effort
A member of the University Council representing the Chancellor, Precious Kyei-Bonsu, said the achievements of the graduates reflected the collective efforts of families, lecturers, administrators and funding partners.
She said many students balanced their studies with work, family responsibilities and financial pressures.
“Being here today is a confirmation of your resilience and determination and we celebrate you for this accomplishment,” she said.
She said graduates were entering a world of rapid change and opportunity where education, initiative and integrity remained key to transforming society.
“The knowledge and values you have gained here are meant not only for personal and professional gain, but also for service to Ghana, Africa and the wider world,” she said.
Sacrifice, values
A media practitioner, Seyiram Apiokor, who was the guest speaker, called on graduates to use their education as a tool for responsibility and social change rather than personal comfort.
She said graduates should reflect on how their education had transformed them and see themselves as agents of change in society.
“If your education is transformative, you should feel the itch of questions,” she said, explaining that education should make them question societal challenges and their role in addressing them.
Ms Apiokor said from the day of graduation, ignorance could no longer be an excuse, since graduates had been exposed to knowledge and critical thinking.
She said success required sacrifice, discipline and consistency, as many people desired good lives but were unwilling to pay the price.
“Comfort does not exempt you from work,” she said and added that progress often came with sleepless nights and missed social events.
She cautioned against reducing success to money alone and urged the graduates to value trust, reputation, skills, credibility and networks.
“Some of the most powerful currencies that you will ever earn do not come with price tags — trust, reputation, your network, your skill, your credibility, your purpose,” she said.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh