Include private universities in national funding plans — Catholic University VC tells gov’t

The Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic University of Ghana, Prof. Matthew Glover Addo, has called on the government to include private universities in national funding plans, warning that current interventions for first-year students in public universities could negatively impact private tertiary education enrolment. At the university's 25th Congregation and 38th Matriculation Ceremony, Prof. Addo urged the government to establish a dedicated fund to support private universities and ensure they receive necessary resources to sustain operations and contribute to Ghana's human resource development.

He emphasized that a comprehensive funding policy benefiting both public and private institutions is crucial. Despite facing financial and operational challenges, CUG has reached its highest-ever new student enrolment of 3,648 by the close of its 2025/2026 academic year. The university graduated 668 postgraduate and 2,138 undergraduate students, including its first PhD student, Dr Godfred Etse Klugah.

Prof. Addo highlighted the university's ongoing expansion of academic programmes and infrastructure, including the recent completion of a pavilion, acquisition of vehicles, and purchase of computers. He acknowledged persistent shortages of qualified teaching staff and the need to improve research output, appealing for support from the Catholic Church, corporate organizations, development partners, philanthropists, and alumni for the university's infrastructure and academic development agenda.