Accra, Friday, 25th April 2025 — In a ceremony characterised by solemnity and high expectation, the Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, inaugurated the newly constituted Board of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) at the Ministry of Education’s Conference Room. In his inaugural address, the Minister articulated a bold vision for the future of tertiary education, urging the Board to lead an ambitious reorientation towards quality, excellence, and national transformation.
Speaking before a gathering of distinguished guests, including senior government officials, academic leaders, and public servants, Hon. Iddrisu bemoaned the disjunction between academic training and the skills requirements of contemporary industry. ‘There exists a substantial disconnect between what our institutions impart and what the realities of industry and the future require,’ he observed, adding, ‘education must be reoriented to reflect real-life skills and contribute meaningfully to national development.’
The Minister called for an uncompromising focus on quality, practical training, and innovation across all tertiary institutions both public and private.
Investing in Infrastructure
Turning to infrastructural challenges, Hon. Iddrisu candidly acknowledged that successive governments have fallen short of expectations. Numerous educational infrastructure projects, he noted, remain in various stages of incompletion. He reminded all stakeholders that the constitutional directive principles of state policy impose a solemn obligation on governments to complete such national investments.
The Minister revealed plans for a forthcoming national scholarship scheme, which will extend support to students enrolled in accredited private universities as well as prospective learners from across West Africa. ‘We envisage Ghana emerging as a beacon of academic excellence on the continent,’ he stated. He added that Government intends to broaden the coverage of the Student Loan Scheme to include accredited private universities in order to alleviate the financial constraints confronting students.
Raising the Bar on Quality and Expanding TVET
On quality assurance, Hon. Iddrisu signaled an uncompromising stance, particularly with respect to private tertiary institutions. ‘Ownership must never become a shield for mediocrity,’ he said, underscoring that quality must remain the non-negotiable standard.
The Minister also announced the establishment of a Technical and Vocational Education Fund, modelled after the acclaimed German system, to promote excellence in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Initial budgetary allocations, he confirmed, have already been secured for the next fiscal year.
Positioning Ghana at the Centre of Higher Education in Africa
In a broader regional vision, Hon. Iddrisu called for deliberate efforts to make Ghana not only self-sufficient but a leader in the production of intellectual capital for West Africa. Scholarships, exchange programmes, and collaborative ventures, he noted, would be key instruments in achieving this aspiration, with GTEC at the forefront of the initiative. The Minister concluded his remarks by vowing to support transformative initiatives that prioritise quality, innovation, and excellence.
Professor Mahama Duwiejua’s response
Responding on behalf of the Board, Professor Mahama Duwiejua expressed profound gratitude to the President and the Minister for the trust reposed in them. ‘We humbly accept the mandate and recognise the enormity of the responsibility placed upon our shoulders,’ he stated. Professor Duwiejua echoed the Minister’s emphasis on relevance and prudent resource management, affirming that the Board would work tirelessly to ensure that every investment in education yields tangible national dividends. He reiterated the Board’s commitment to ensuring that no Ghanaian is excluded from tertiary education on account of economic or social barriers. Inclusivity, quality assurance, and institutional efficiency, he said, would constitute the central pillars of the Board’s strategic approach.
Drawing on the lessons of recent education policy dialogues and the rich professional diversity within the Board, Professor Duwiejua pledged close collaboration with the Ministry, the Director-General of GTEC, and all relevant stakeholders to reposition Ghana’s tertiary education sector.
Professor Duwiejua holds a BPharm from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana; an MSc from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen; a PhD from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow; and a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Economics from Curtin University, Australia. His illustrious career includes serving as Executive Secretary of the erstwhile National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), Ghana, from October 2010 to October 2015. In that capacity, he worked closely with the Ministry of Education, tertiary education institutions, and development partners on the formulation of policies for the advancement of Ghana’s tertiary education sector. With over three decades of academic experience, rising through the ranks from Lecturer to Professor of Pharmacology, Professor Duwiejua brings to the Board an extraordinary wealth of expertise and a profound understanding of the dynamics shaping higher education in Ghana.
Composition of the GTEC Board
The newly inaugurated Board, chaired by Professor Mahama Duwiejua, comprises an illustrious ensemble of distinguished personalities: Reverend Professor John Frank Eshun, Professor Fred Mc Bagoluri, Mrs Mamle Andrews, Mr. Samuel Danquah Arkhurst, Mrs Stella Otema Badu, Dr Isaac Nii Moi Thompson, Mr. Zakaria Sulemana, Dr. Belinda Glover-Dake, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Professor Ernest Kofi Davies, and Dr. Eric Kofi Adzroe. Their collective expertise, spanning diverse fields such as engineering, education policy, health economics, and public sector management, augurs well for the future trajectory of tertiary education in Ghana.
The solemn ceremony was witnessed by eminent personalities, including Dr. Emmanuel Newman, Director for Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education, Mr. Joseph Mensah Oti-Asirifi, Executive Secretary, Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities of Ghana (VCTU-G) among several other dignitaries from academia and public service.