Marshalls University College, as part of the Private Universities Founders Association (PUFA), has participated in a high-level engagement at the Jubilee House with the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, to advocate for reforms in the regulatory framework governing private university colleges in Ghana.
The engagement focused on the long-standing requirement for university colleges to obtain a Presidential Charter after operating under mentorship from public universities for over ten (10) years. Marshalls University College falls within this category, having successfully operated for more than a decade under public university mentorship, while consistently delivering quality tertiary education and contributing significantly to human capital development in Ghana.
Importantly, Marshalls University College has fully complied with the existing legal and regulatory requirements by formally applying for the Presidential Charter, paying the required statutory fees, and submitting to all due diligence and evaluation processes associated with the charter application. This engagement, therefore, does not arise from non-compliance, but rather from a policy position aimed at improving the regulatory framework in the best interest of the tertiary education sector and national development.
The purpose of the engagement was to appeal to the President to lead a policy and legislative process towards amending the Education Regulatory Acts, including Act 1023, which empowers the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to regulate tertiary institutions and guide university colleges through the charter process. PUFA’s position is that the Presidential Charter should be made optional rather than mandatory, particularly for well-established, compliant, and high-performing private university colleges.
Present at the meeting were the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, the Deputy Minister of Education, Hon. Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, and the Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, among other senior government officials.
On behalf of PUFA, the President and Executive Secretary of the Association presented a comprehensive policy paper to the President, outlining the challenges associated with the current charter regime and proposing that the charter requirement be made optional. The paper emphasised the maturity, stability, governance capacity, and academic credibility of several private university colleges that have demonstrated long-term compliance with national standards.
In his response, the Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Jinapor, openly expressed his support for making the Presidential Charter optional, especially for institutions that have met regulatory benchmarks over extended periods of operation.
Following the discussions, His Excellency the President directed the Minister of Education to prepare and submit the necessary policy proposals to Cabinet for consideration, with the view to initiating the statutory amendment process. This directive marks a significant step towards regulatory reform that could reshape the future of private tertiary education in Ghana.
Marshalls University College was proudly represented at this historic engagement by its Founder and President, Dr. Tetteh Nettey, the Executive Secretary of the Marshalls Doctoral Faculty and Academic Dean, Prof. Kofi Boakye, and the Registrar, Mr. Adolphus Lokko. Their participation underscores Marshalls’ active role in national policy advocacy and its commitment to shaping a progressive and enabling environment for private tertiary education.
This engagement reflects Marshalls University College’s growing influence, credibility, and leadership within Ghana’s tertiary education sector. As an institution listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange and with over twelve (12) years of continuous academic delivery, Marshalls continues to demonstrate its commitment to quality, innovation, regulatory compliance, and national development.
Marshalls University College remains dedicated to partnering with government, regulatory bodies, and industry to expand access to quality higher education, promote research and innovation, and develop globally competitive graduates equipped for leadership in today’s dynamic world.
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Marshalls University College
No. 14, Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia Highway, Opposite Gloryland Hotel, Odorkor, Accra.
Phone: +233 242 561 005 or +233 27 774 1576
Email: info@marshalls.edu.gh
Website: www.marshalls.edu.gh
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