University of Ghana Ranks Fifth in Africa and Tops Ghana and West Africa in 2024 Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings

The University of Ghana (UG) has earned a significant achievement in the 2024 Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings by securing fifth place on the continent and reaffirming its status as the leading university in both Ghana and the West African region.

UG’s remarkable performance places it behind four prominent universities from Southern and Eastern Africa, cementing its position as a top-tier institution in Africa. The university achieved an overall score of 74.3, reflecting substantial strides in key performance metrics, including education quality, research output, and societal impact.

The Times Higher Education rankings evaluate universities across five main categories: resources and finance, access and fairness, student engagement, ethical leadership, and Africa impact. UG’s strong results across these pillars showcase its commitment to academic excellence, social responsibility, and contribution to Africa’s development.

A standout achievement for the University of Ghana is its score of 79.7 in ethical leadership, highlighting the institution’s dedication to nurturing responsible, ethical leaders who prioritize social accountability. The university’s commitment to student engagement is also evident, with a score of 79.6, demonstrating its focus on creating a vibrant and inclusive academic environment. UG also earned a high score of 78.8 in Africa impact, reflecting its substantial contributions to addressing key socio-economic challenges facing the continent through research and community engagement.

UG’s commitment to ensuring equal access to education is reflected in its score of 75.2 in the access and fairness category. This score signifies the university’s efforts to provide opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that education is accessible to all. Despite facing financial constraints, common across many institutions in the region, UG managed to secure a score of 61.3 in the resources and finance pillar, demonstrating effective management and utilization of available resources.

The university’s impressive performance in these areas aligns with its 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, which aims to enhance student experiences, drive impactful research, and mobilize resources sustainably. These objectives are clearly reflected in the university’s high scores in student engagement, ethical leadership, and resource management. The Africa impact score further highlights UG’s vision of achieving global recognition through its innovative research, teaching, and community-based initiatives.

Along with UG’s individual success, Ghana has emerged as one of the top-performing countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa rankings. With an average score of 57 across 11 ranked institutions, Ghana is now the second-best performing country in the region, underscoring the country’s growing significance in the global higher education landscape.

The Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings are designed to address regional challenges such as improving access to higher education for marginalized groups, leadership development, and the preservation of African heritage. A new pillar for 2024, ethical leadership, emphasizes the cultivation of strong moral values and leadership skills in students. UG’s outstanding performance in this category is consistent with its broader strategic goals of fostering ethical leadership and social responsibility.

The methodology for the rankings was developed by an advisory board composed of experts, including Sylvia Kunkyebe (Mastercard Foundation), Juliet Thondhlana (UNESCO Chair in International Education and Development, University of Nottingham, UK), and Patrick Awuah (Founder and President of Ashesi University, Ghana). These experts ensured that the rankings were both regionally relevant and rigorously applied, helping to maintain the integrity and value of the results.

UG’s rise in the rankings is a testament to its continued leadership in higher education, both in Ghana and across the African continent. The university’s ongoing commitment to excellence in research, leadership, and teaching ensures that it remains at the forefront of higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This recognition highlights the University of Ghana’s critical role in addressing regional challenges, shaping future leaders, and creating a lasting impact through education. UG’s success is a beacon of academic achievement for other African universities, illustrating the potential for excellence in higher education across the continent. The university’s ability to combine rigorous academics with a commitment to social responsibility continues to make it a leading institution not only in Ghana but in the broader African context as well.