Former President John Dramani Mahama has announced a GHS 100 million seed capital package for Ghana’s 10 technical universities. This fund will be included in the 2027 Budget Statement.
The seed capital aims to support research, innovation, infrastructure expansion, and entrepreneurship development within these institutions. This commitment addresses a long-standing need for dedicated state financial support for technical universities, established a decade ago.
This announcement aligns with Ghana's strategic focus on technical and vocational education and training, known as TVET. The government views TVET as essential for industrial transformation and economic growth. Data shows continued underinvestment in technical education infrastructure has hampered its contribution to Ghana's economy. This new fund seeks to reverse that trend.
President Mahama made the announcement at the Fourth Applied Research Conference of Technical Universities of Ghana. He responded to an appeal from Professor Adinkrah, Chairman of Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities. Professor Adinkrah noted that technical universities had not received seed capital since their conversion from polytechnics 10 years ago. He urged the President to establish a fund to strengthen their operations and research capacity.
The GHS 100 million injection aims to transform technical universities into hubs of innovation and enterprise. Decision-makers and industry leaders will closely monitor how these funds are allocated and their impact on research output and job creation. This investment is crucial for Ghana's long-term industrial and economic strategy, positioning the nation competitively in the global knowledge economy. It signals a renewed focus on practical education and skills development across the country.
President Mahama underscored the vital role technical universities must play in Ghana’s industrial development. He stressed that these institutions need to become centers of innovation and enterprise creation. This move is part of a broader government strategy to integrate science, technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics into the education curriculum. This will extend from kindergarten through to secondary education, aiming to create a stronger pipeline of STEM students.
Government aims to expand infrastructure, establish modern laboratories, and support applied research systems through the Ghana Education Trust Fund. The operational National Research Fund supports indigenous research and the commercialization of innovations. President Mahama also plans to establish a new Savannah University of Science and Technology in northern Ghana. This will further expand access to science and technology education nationally. These combined efforts seek to ensure Ghana produces technology, innovates, and competes effectively on the global stage, avoiding dependence on technology developed elsewhere.