University of Ghana excels in 2024 Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings, places fifth in Africa

The University of Ghana (UG) has emerged as a top-tier institution in the 2024 Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings, securing fifth place on the continent and maintaining its position as the leading university in Ghana. 

Placing fifth, behind four universities from Southern and Eastern Africa, UG also claimed the number one spot in the West Africa sub-region.

With an impressive overall score of 74.3, the University has made significant strides in several key performance metrics, reaffirming its commitment to excellence in education, research and societal impact.

The rankings, which assess universities across Africa based on five key pillars: resources and finance; access and fairness; student engagement; ethical leadership and African impact, highlight UG’s strengths across multiple areas.

Earning a stellar score of 79.7, UG excelled in ethical leadership, highlighting its dedication to nurturing responsible leaders who prioritise integrity and social accountability. A student engagement score of 79.6 reflects the University’s commitment to creating an all-inclusive and stimulating academic environment, while its Africa impact score of 78.8 underscores its contributions to addressing critical challenges through innovative research and community engagement.

UG’s emphasis on equitable access to education is evident in its score of 75.2 for access and fairness, showcasing its efforts to ensure opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. In the resources and finance pillar, the University recorded a score of 61.3, demonstrating effective resource management despite financial constraints that challenge higher education institutions in the region.

These achievements are deeply aligned with UG’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, which, among other priorities, focuses on transformative student experience, impactful research and sustainable resource mobilisation and stewardship.

The student engagement score exemplifies the University’s commitment to promoting enriching academic opportunities, while its ethical leadership and resource management scores affirm its dedication to sustainable practices. Additionally, the Africa impact score reflects the University’s vision of achieving global impact through innovative research, teaching and learning using a technology-driven and people-centred approach.

This recognition also highlights Ghana’s growing prominence in higher education. With an average score of 57 across 11 ranked institutions, Ghana emerged as the second-best-performing country in the region.

The rankings, designed to address regional challenges, evaluate areas such as access for marginalised groups, leadership development and preserving African heritage. Ethical leadership, introduced as a new pillar in 2024, emphasises the importance of cultivating leadership skills and moral values in students. This resonates with UG’s strategic objectives.

The advisory board for the Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings includes prominent figures such as Sylvia Kunkyebe (Mastercard Foundation), Juliet Thondhlana (UNESCO Chair in International Education and Development, University of Nottingham, UK) and Patrick Awuah (Founder and President, Ashesi University, Ghana). Their expertise ensured that the methodology employed for the rankings remained regionally relevant and rigorous.

While excelling across these metrics, the University of Ghana continues to demonstrate its leadership in higher education, driving impactful research, promoting ethical leadership and delivering transformative learning experiences.

UG’s rise in the rankings affirms its role as a trailblazer in addressing the unique needs of the region while shaping a future of excellence for its students and stakeholders.