Cape coast: The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has made an appeal to the government for financial clearance to facilitate the recruitment of additional academic staff, aiming to enhance the quality of academic work at the institution. This request comes in response to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission's (GTEC) directive mandating the retirement of university staff who have reached the age of 60.
According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC, highlighted the impact of the directive during the university's 58th congregation. He stated that 38 academic staff, including professors, associate professors, and senior lecturers, were affected, creating unexpected administrative challenges. The university's reliance on part-time lecturers, particularly for new programs, is deemed unsustainable, underscoring the need for permanent recruitments.
The 58th congregation was notably significant for the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), which celebrated the graduation of 4,154 postgraduate students. This included 1,904 students from the ninth session and 2,250 from the 10th session, among whom were 128 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduates. Additionally, 433 senior police officers completed a postgraduate diploma in security studies, enhancing their strategic and managerial skills.
In total, UCC graduated 13,388 undergraduates in sessions held earlier in the week, bringing the overall count for the 58th congregation to 17,542 graduates. Professor Aheto also addressed UCC's infrastructural challenges, particularly the shortage of student accommodation. Of the 11,500 students enrolled for the 2024/2025 academic year, only about 6,000 could be accommodated on-campus, forcing many to seek housing externally.
He emphasized the pressing need for investment in student housing infrastructure and called upon development partners and investors to participate in strategic interventions. The university's governing council is reviewing proposals to establish partnerships and financing mechanisms to address the housing deficit.
Professor Aheto reaffirmed UCC's dedication to advancing graduate education, contributing significantly to Ghana's human capital development. He also announced plans for a master's degree top-up for the postgraduate diploma in security studies, expected to commence by 2026.
Despite the challenges, UCC continues to excel, maintaining its position as the top-ranked university in Ghana and West Africa for the fifth consecutive year, and 11th in Africa according to the Times Higher Education 2026 World University Rankings. Justice William Anaam Atuguba, Chairman of the Governing Council, urged graduates to apply their knowledge with integrity and social responsibility.