History Of University Of Ghana UG Legon
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY
THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA was founded in 1948 as the University College of
the Gold Coast on the recommendation of the Asquith Commission, on Higher Education in the
then British colonies. The Asquith Commission, which was set up in 1943 to investigate Higher
Education, recommended among other things, the setting up of University Colleges in
association with the University of London. This was followed up by a number of separate
Commissions in different regions. The West Africa Commission was under the Chairmanship of
the Rt. Hon. Walter Elliot. The Elliot Commission published a majority report which
recommended the establishment of two University Colleges in the Gold Coast (Ghana) and
Nigeria, and a minority report which held that only one University College for the whole of
British West Africa was feasible. The British Government at first accepted the minority report of
the Elliot Commission and decided that a University College for the whole of British West
Africa should be established at Ibadan in Nigeria. But the people of the Gold Coast could not
accept this recommendation. Led by the scholar and politician, the late Dr. J.B. Danquah, they
urged the Gold Coast Government to inform the British Government that the Gold Coast could
support a University College. The British Government accordingly reviewed its decision and
agreed to the establishment of the University College of the Gold Coast.
The University College of the Gold Coast was founded by Ordinance on August 11,
1948 for the purpose of providing for and promoting university education, learning and
research. Its first Principal was the late Mr. David Mowbray Balme. Mr. Balme was farsighted,
courageous and dedicated to the promotion of scholarship. By his vision, industry and singlemindedness
of purpose, he built a college and laid the foundations for a sound University which
is now a source of pride. In his ten years of Principalship, he created an institution whose keynote
was orderly living with dignity in a community of scholars. One of the recommendations of
the Asquith Commission was that the British Government should set up an Inter-Universities
Council to advise on all matters relating to Higher Education in the new British Colonies. The
Inter-Universities Council served the new University College of the Gold Coast in an advisory
capacity, but it approved all academic appointments. This arrangement helped the College to
maintain the high academic standards associated with the Universities in Britain. Also, it enabled
the College to seek support of the Council in obtaining funds from the United Kingdom
Government sources.
From its inception, the University College of the Gold Coast was admitted to the
Scheme of Special Relationship extended by the University of London to certain English and
overseas University Colleges. Under this scheme, the University College was allowed to teach
for the external degree examinations of London University. It also allowed the College to modify
the London syllabuses to suit local conditions and to take part in the setting and marking of
examinations. But London University gave final approval to courses and examinations since the
degrees given were those of the University of London. For thirteen years, therefore, the
University College looked up to two separate institutions in Great Britain: to the Inter-
Universities Council for guidance on its broad policy, and to the University of London for
approval and control of details of degree regulations. The University College benefitted greatly
from this arrangement which certainly helped to maintain its high academic standards.
In the 1960-61 academic year, the College Council made a request to the
Government of Ghana for legislation to constitute the University College into a University
with the power to award its own degrees. The Government appointed an International
Commission to examine the problem. On the recommendations of that Commission, the
University of Ghana was set up by an Act of Parliament on October 1, 1961 (Act 79). The
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then President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, became the first Chancellor of
the University, with Nana Kobina Nketsia IV, BLitt DPhil (Oxon), Omanhene of Essikado, as
the (Interim) Vice Chancellor.
ENROLMENT AND GRADUATION STATISTICS: With a current student population of
about 42,692 (representing male/female ratio of about 3:2) the University of Ghana is the oldest
and largest of the five public Universities in Ghana. Breakdown in terms of programmes are as
follows: Post-Graduate students – 2,504; Bachelors’ Degrees – 34,354; Sub-Degrees – 5,834.
Foreign students currently enrolled in the University are also 1409. Senior Members engaged in
research and teaching number 951. Senior Administrative and Professional staff also number
136.
ASSOCIATIONS AND LINKS: The University of Ghana is a member of the International
Association of Universities (IAU), the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and
the Association of African Universities (AAU). The University is also a member the League of
World Universities (which comprises 47 renowned research universities all over the world).
The University has also established academic and research links with several Universities and
Research Institutions worldwide. In addition, the University has also been linked to the
Norwegian Universities’ Committee for Development Research and Education (NUFU), the
Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE) based in New York, International
Student Exchange Programmes (ISEP) and the Commonwealth Universities Student Exchange
Consortium (CUSAC), among others.