Technology

    KNUST secures 3 million dollar Mastercard Foundation Prize

    Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology recognized for excellence in research and innovation, receiving a significant grant to advance higher education transformation in Africa.

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    The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has secured a $3 million grant as an inaugural winner of the Mastercard Foundation's Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize. This significant award recognizes KNUST's exceptional contributions to driving institution-wide transformation and expanding opportunities for young people across the African continent. KNUST was specifically honored for its Excellence in Research and Innovation. The university has developed one of Africa’s leading research-to-innovation ecosystems. This ecosystem includes key platforms such as the Kumasi Business Incubator, the Innovation Centre, and the Technology Consultancy Centre, which are crucial in translating academic research into practical startups, effective industry solutions, and impactful public initiatives. This achievement positions KNUST within a broader continental effort to enhance higher education. The AHEFT Prize is supported by a substantial $500 million commitment from the Mastercard Foundation over its initial decade. This initiative aims to foster excellence in African universities, making them engines of opportunity for millions of young people. The prize underscores a strategic focus on leveraging education for economic development and job creation across Africa. Sewit Ahderom, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation, stated, “For 20 years we have seen African institutions rethink what higher education can deliver. The AHEFT Prize turns that proof into momentum: we are backing homegrown excellence with a decade-long commitment, so that universities across the continent become engines of opportunity for millions of young people.” This statement highlights the long-term vision behind the prize and its potential to significantly impact the future of African youth. KNUST's recognition carries substantial implications for Ghana's educational and economic landscape. The $3 million grant will likely bolster the university's capacity for advanced research and innovation, potentially leading to more startups and job creation within the country. This aligns with Ghana's national development goals, which prioritize technological advancement and entrepreneurship as key drivers of economic growth. The award also enhances KNUST's international standing, attracting further partnerships and investments in higher education and research. The AHEFT Prize initiative will continue to support universities across Africa for the next decade, with plans to recognize at least 150 institutions. This ongoing commitment covers critical areas such as teaching and learning, employment transitions, research and innovation, entrepreneurship, climate and environment, agriculture, health, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), digital technology, and artificial intelligence. The inaugural winners, including KNUST, will be celebrated at the Higher Education Transformation Convening in Accra, Ghana, on September 22, 2026. This event will further spotlight Ghana's role in advancing higher education on the continent. The focus on converting research into tangible economic benefits is particularly relevant for Ghana, a nation striving to diversify its economy and create sustainable employment opportunities for its growing youth population. The success of KNUST's incubators and innovation centers serves as a model for other Ghanaian institutions. This model demonstrates how academic institutions can directly contribute to national development by fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Mastercard Foundation's investment reinforces the idea that higher education is not just about learning but also about direct pathways to work and economic participation. Dr. John Nkengasong, Executive Director of Higher Education Initiatives at the Mastercard Foundation, emphasized this point, stating, “This is the moment to reimagine what higher education institutions can do as engines of human capital development – not only as a place of learning, but as a direct route to work, to economic participation, and to a better future for young people across Africa.” This perspective underscores the transformative potential of such initiatives for Ghana and the wider African continent.

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    Figures used

    • Mastercard Foundation Prize for each institution: 3 million dollars (Awarded to KNUST and four other universities)
    • Mastercard Foundation commitment over first decade: 500 million dollars (For the Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize)
    • Number of inaugural AHEFT Prize winners: 5 universities (Including KNUST)
    • Target number of institutions to be recognized: 150 institutions (Over the next decade by AHEFT Prize)

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    Before publication every StatsGH story must report a current, sourced statistic about Ghana, link to its source and not repeat an event we have already covered. Figures are taken from the source report as published and were current on 23 July 2026.

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