University of Ghana

The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian national public universities.[3] It was founded in 1948,[4] in the British colony of the Gold Coast, as the University College of the Gold Coast,[5][6] and was originally an affiliate college of the University of London,[7] which supervised its academic programs and awarded degrees.[8] After independence in 1957, the college was renamed the University College of Ghana.[9] It changed its name again to the University of Ghana in 1961, when it gained full university status.[10] The University of Ghana is situated on the West view of the Accra Legon hills and at the northeast of the centre of Accra, now has various schools, institutions, colleges and departments and has over 40,000 registered students.[7]

University of Ghana
Arms of the University of Ghana
MottoIntegri Procedamus[1]
TypePublic
Established1948; 73 years ago
ChairmanYaw Twumasi
ChancellorMary Chinery-Hesse
Vice-ChancellorEbenezer Oduro Owusu[2]
Students39,249 as at July 2016
Undergraduates33,703
Postgraduates5,546
652
Address
University of Ghana
P.O. Box LG 25
Legon, Ghana
,
Accra
,
Greater Accra Region
,
Ghana

05°39′03″N 00°11′13″W
CampusSuburban area
ColoursMidnight Blue, Lemon Yellow and Vegas Gold
   
NicknameLegon
Affiliations
Websitewww.ug.edu.gh

Introduction

The original emphasis on establishing the University of Ghana was on the liberal arts, social sciences, law, basic science, agriculture and medicine.[11] However, as part of a national educational reform program, the university's curriculum was expanded to provide more technology-based and vocational courses as well as postgraduate training..

The University of Ghana which is mainly based at Legon, about 12 kilometres northeast of the center of Accra has its medical school in the town called Korle-Bu, with a teaching hospital and a secondary/external campus in the city of Accra. It also has a graduate school of nuclear and Allied Sciences at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, making it one of the few universities on the African continent offering programs in nuclear physics and nuclear engineering.[11]

University of Ghana Logo[12]

The Logo is made up of three colors; the midnight blue, lemon yellow and vegas gold.[12] The Blue shield with three ''AYA'' standing upright in top half and ''DWENINMENTOAS'' in the middle of bottom half, all embossed in gold.[13] The Logo was designed by A. M. Opoku.[14] ''AYA''(Akan word for fern) is an Adinkra Symbol. The ''AYA'' grows straight and it is used here to represent truthfulness and an ability to stay upright.

Ram's Horns:'Dweninmen' (Akan word for Ram's Horn) is an Adinkra symbol.[15] Here, two interlocking ram's horns (DWENINMENTOASO) have been used to symbolise strength and a call to pursue a path of integrity.[15]

History

The formation of the West African Commission of the Asquith Commission on Higher Education in the Colonies[16] under the chairmanship of Rt. Hon. Walter Elliot was the birth of this notable institution in 1948.[17] The commission recommended the setting up of university colleges in association with the University of London, thus the University College of the Gold Coast was founded by Ordinance on 11 August 1948 for the purpose of providing for and promoting university education, learning and research.[17] This was made possible by the rejection of the first recommendation which stated that only one university college was feasible for the whole of British West Africa, which would be located in Nigeria by the people of Gold Coast led principally by Dr. J. B. Danquah.[16]

The University College of Gold Coast as the time became the University College of Ghana after the country attained its independence from the British colony. In October 1961 the University College of Ghana attained sovereign university status and was assigned the mandate by an acto of Parliament to award its own degrees.[18]

Office of the Chancellor
Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse

Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse is the current Chancellor of the University.[19] She was duly elected as Chancellor and subsequently inducted into office on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at a Special Congregation of the University held in the Great Hall.[20]

Past Chancellors of the University

Until the year 1998, the Head of State acted as Chancellor of the University of Ghana.[21] Thus, from 1961 when the University of Ghana was established by an Act of Parliament, the first Head of State of independent Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah became the first Chancellor of the University of Ghana.[22]

The following have held the position of Chancellor of the University:

Office of the Vice-Chancellor
Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu

Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu is the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana.[23]

Past vice-chancellors and principals

University College of the Gold Coast

University College of Ghana

Academics

The Balme Library
Main entrance to the Balme Library
Main article: The Balme Library

The Balme Library was established in 1948 as the Achimota College Library.[26] It is the main and mother library of the university's library network.[27] The Balme library is located on the main campus of the University.[27]

College of Health Sciences

There are six Schools and one Research Institute under this college.[28][29] They include:

  • School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences
  • School of Nursing, located on the Legon campus though its students receive practical training at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital
  • School of Pharmacy
  • School of Public Health
  • School of Education and Leadership
  • Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
  • Centre for Tropical, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics


College of Basic and Applied Sciences

There are five Schools, six Centres (3 research based) and two Institutes under this college. They include:

  • School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
  • School of Biological Sciences
  • School of Agriculture
  • School of Engineering Sciences
  • School of Veterinary Medicine
  • Livestock and Poultry Research Centre (LIPREC)
  • Soil and Irrigation Research Centre (SIREC)
  • Forest and Horticultural Research Centre (FOHCREC)
  • Biotechnology Centre
  • West African Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI)
  • West African Centre for Cell Biology and Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP)
  • Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies
  • Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology

Collegiate system

Starting from the 2014/2015 academic year, the University of Ghana adopted the collegiate system[30] and thus categorized all schools and departments under four colleges, which are:

  • College of Basic and Applied Sciences
  • College of Humanities
  • College of Education
  • College of Health Sciences

Other faculties

There are five faculties outside the above Colleges and they include:

  • Faculty of Arts
  • Faculty of Social Studies
Department of Economics of University of Ghana
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Law: first established as a department of the Faculty of Social Studies in the 1958/59 academic year, became a full-fledged faculty in the 1960/61 academic year.[31] From the 2012/2013 academic year, the university will admit fresh Senior High School (S.H.S) students into the LLB first-degree program, but will retain the post-first degree program. Thus the university will have two entry means to the Faculty of Law.[32]
  • Faculty of Engineering Sciences

Legon Campus

The Legon Campus lies about 13 kilometers north-east of Accra, the capital of Ghana. This is where most of the University's teaching and research are carried out. The Legon Campus also houses the central administration of the University. there are a number of student residences located on the Legon Campus.[15]

Korle-Bu Campus

The Korle-Bu Campus, headed by a Provost, houses the administration of the College of Health Sciences. Some of the constituent schools are also located on the Korle-Bu Campus; the School of Medicine and Dentistry and the School of Allied Health Sciences.

Accra City Campus

This campus is strategically located in the heart of the city.

Distance Education Campuses

The university has Distance Education campuses in the various regions where it runs a variety of programs, including degree courses.[33] Awudome College has residential facilities that enable running of short courses, over weekends and other durations.

  • Accra Workers' College, (now Accra City campus), Accra
  • Awudome Residential Workers' College, Tsito
  • Bolgatanga Workers' College, Bolgatanga
  • Cape Coast Workers' College, Cape Coast
  • Ho Workers' College, Ho
  • Koforidua Workers' College, Koforidua
  • Kumasi Workers' College, Kumasi
  • Takoradi Workers' College, Sekondi-Takoradi
  • Tamale Workers' College, Tamale
  • Tema Workers' College, Tema
  • Sunyani Workers' College, Sunyani
  • Wa Workers' College, Wa

Institutional Affiliations[34]

Reputation
University rankings
Global – Overall
QS World[36]801-1000
THE World[37]801-1000
Regional – Overall
THE Africa[37]17
THE Emerging Economies[38]182

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings of 2018 ranks the University of Ghana at the 800-1000th place globally and 17th in Africa (rank shared with other universities).[39]

Research and learning centres

The Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences is a post-graduate school established by Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) in collaboration with the University of Ghana, with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to enhance human resources development for the peaceful use of nuclear and related technologies in Ghana and Africa. SNAS is part of the Faculty of Science, University of Ghana and locate at Kwabenya.

Facilities

Halls of residence[40]

The halls of residence of the University of Ghana has been described as "home away from home." Halls of residence are provided for graduate and undergraduate students. There are also flats and guest rooms for senior members and guests. There are main halls of residence by the Government of Ghana and private halls of residence built on campus by individuals and corporate bodies.[41][40] Below are descriptions of the halls of residence; Commonwealth Hall, Legon Hall, Mensah Sarbah Hall, Volta Hall, Akuafo Hall and Jubilee Hall at the University of Ghana, Legon.

  • Commonwealth Hall (the university's only male hall of residence). Known as the Vandals Hall, the word VANDALS is an acronym for Vivacious, Affable, Neighborly, Devoted, Altruistic and Loyal. For the name vandals, the students of the Commonwealth Hall recognized themselves with the common name known as 'V' Mates with a response word 'Sharp'. The males of this hall believe in and uphold customs and traditions. The VANDALS are said to represent the voices of the entire student body, making known students' cases and issues, for appropriate solutions from authorities. Often clad in red, as the colour of their identity, ladies who wore red attire to their environment had always been cheered for identifying with them. The VANDALs pride themselves with leadership qualities and unity, making the old VANDALS always proud.[42]
  • Legon Hall (The Legon Hall is the premier hall of the University of Ghana). Legon Hall was the first hall of residence to be considered and built on the University of Ghana campus, thus referred to as the Premier Hall. The Hall is located at the Centre of the school close to the biggest library (the Balme Library) in the West African region. Just like the Mensah Sarbah Hall and the Akuafo Hall, Legon Hall serves as home for both male and female students, allowing for strong bonds between the sexes on the campus. Legon Hall has produced a number of prominent personalities.[43] The motto of the Legon hall is; "Cui Multidum Datum", which means "human relations with examples".[44]
  • Mensah Sarbah Hall (The Mensah Sarbah Hall is the first hall to be named after a hero of the nation; Dr. Mensah Sarbah). The hall is recognised to host most of the best athletes on the university campus, influencing laurels.
  • Volta Hall (the university's female-only hall of residence). It is the only all-female hall on campus known for their discipline and neatness. The hall has churned out many respectable women such as the first female Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Woode.
  • Akuafo Hall The word "akuafo" is an Akan word which means farmers. For this reason the hall is notably called the Farmers hall with a rich Ghanaian culture and tradition. The Akuafo Hall was the second hall of residence to be established in the University of Ghana. Their chieftaincy institution serves as a symbol of unity for students and also helps to promote and showcase the rich Ghanaian culture. The chief farmer and his queen mother are elected annually.
  • Jubilee Hall. The Jubilee Hall is one of the halls of residence of the University of Ghana, Legon. The Jubilee hall is located on the south of the university campus, and opposite to the International Students Hostel. Jubilee Hall was built to commemorate the Universitys’ Golden Jubilee celebration in 1998. The hall was mainly built through support funds from alumni of the university.[45]

The university has eight newly created halls of residence that were commissioned in 2011. They are:

  • Alexander Kwapong Hall, named after Professor Alexander Kwapong a former Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council of State.[46]
  • Jean Nelson Akah Hall, named after an alumnus, Jean Nelson Akah. It was inaugurated in July 2010. Its emblem shows a candle, a book and a pen to symbolize perseverance. It was designed by a final year Physics-Computer Science major student Raymond Sung-Seh Harrison. The motto of the hall, "Lux in Tenebris", which is Latin for "Light in Darkness", was suggested by Raymond's mate at the time, a lady by the name Muna Twerefour. The emblem was officially adopted on Tuesday, 2 April 2013.
  • Hilla Limann Hall, the first of the University of Ghana Enterprise Limited (UGEL) hostels to be completed. It was inaugurated in July 2010,[47] during which the Vice-Chancellor announced the decision to name it after Dr. Hilla Limann, a former President of the Republic of Ghana. Senior members of the University may be assigned as Fellows of the Hall by the Vice Chancellor. Students assigned/affiliated to the Hall form the Junior members. The Head of the Hall, Senior Tutor and fellow tutors serve as a body which helps with the governing of the Hall.
  • Elizabeth Sey Hall, the second of the newer halls built by University of Ghana Enterprise Limited (UGEL) Hostels to be completed. It was inaugurated in July 2010 and was named after the first female graduate of the university, Elizabeth Frances Baaba Sey.
  • Africa Union Hall, formerly called Pentagon, built by Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
  • James Topp Nelson Yankah Hall, formerly known as Teachers Fund (TF) Hostel.[48]
  • Bani Hall, initially a private hostel and later had transferred to the status of a hall after the tenancy agreement with the University had elapsed.
  • Evandy Hall, formerly Evandy Hostel and this was turned into a hall after the tenancy agreement with the University elapsed and ownership transferred to University authorities,
Entrance to Mensah Sarbah Hall, University of Ghana

Hostels

There are ten university hostels: the International Students Hostels (I and II), the Valco Trust Hostel, the Commonwealth Hall, the Akuafo Hall, the Mensah Sarbah Hall, the Legon Hall, the Limann Hall, the Kwapong Hall, the Elizabeth Sey Hall and the Jean Akah Nelson hall. There are also private hostels, SSNIT Hostels (Ghana Hostels also known as Pentagon).[49]

Bank, postal and other services

Ghana Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays Bank, Cal Bank, HFC Bank, Access Bank, Stanbic Bank,Fidelity Bank, Ecobank Ghana and Prudential Bank have branches on the Legon campus. There is a branch of the national postal service (Ghana Post) on campus. Other banks have ATMs on campus.

Roads usage and user charges

From 1 February 2014, all vehicles entering the University of Ghana's main campus, and also those using the road passing through the Staff Village of the University were required to pay charges. This was heavily criticized by public and students and was therefore suspended.[50] Currently, various entry points into the campus require vehicle owners (typically staff and students) to obtain electronically scannable cards issued and authorized by the transport unit of the university.

Notable alumni

Notable staff

The university has appeared in several films and television advertisements. The television series Sun City has a lot of scenes of the university. The name of the university has also been referenced in the lyrics of artists in Ghana, including Sarkodie's "Legon Girls", Buk Bak's "Klu blɔfo", Kwadei's "Wutatami" and Okordii's "Four years in Legon".[54] In June 2020 the University of Ghana was resolute to continue with its planned online teaching and learning for the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year despite the government's plan to reopen schools for final year students.[55]

Controversy

The management of the university was labeled as 'insensitive' to the hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic after the school increased its facility user fees for 2020/21 academic year. It led to a protest on social media and the decision was later reversed.[56]

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