Mrs. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has emphasized the importance of fostering cross-border collaboration in Ghana’s education system.
She said that forming partnerships with international institutions would enhance Ghanaian educational institutions by enriching their curriculum and providing greater opportunities for students.
Speaking at the “State and Future of Tertiary Education in Ghana” conference, hosted by the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), the Minister explained that such collaborations would help students gain diverse perspectives, which are essential for their personal and academic growth.
Mrs. Botchwey, also the incoming Commonwealth Secretary-General, urged the government to invest significantly in technology-driven infrastructure that would create comprehensive learning environments for students.
This includes establishing smart classrooms, improving internet connectivity, and building state-of-the-art facilities to foster innovation and academic excellence.
She also encouraged academic institutions to focus on the recruitment and continuous professional development of qualified educators to maintain high teaching standards.
“We must empower our faculty to adopt innovative teaching methodology and engage in research that addresses pressing societal issues, ensuring our students remain at the forefront of their studies,“ she said.
The Minister stressed that academic programmes should be designed to align with the core goals of the job market to ensure the employability of graduates.
Professor Abednego F.O. Amartey, Vice Chancellor of UPSA, highlighted the challenges faced by Ghanaian universities, including limited resources, difficulties in maintaining infrastructure, and the inability to offer competitive salaries to support modern teaching methods.
He called on academic institutions to seek alternative funding sources that should become an integral part of university operations.
The Vice Chancellor urged universities to invest in a forward-looking vision that emphasized accountability, resilience, and a strong focus on the future of Ghanaian students.
He also stressed the need of fostering a culture of excellence in all institutional decisions.
GNA
