President John Mahama with Prof. Same Afrane (3rd right) and other senior officials CSU
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President John Dramani Mahama has assured private universities of government’s readiness to consider measures that will improve their operations and contribution to higher education in Ghana.
This assurance was given when a delegation from the Christian Service University (CSU) in Kumasi, led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sam Afrane, paid a courtesy call on him at the Flagstaff House in Accra.
Prof. Afrane, speaking on behalf of the delegation, urged the government to extend the Stress-free Fee Programme for first-year students in private universities, arguing that the initiative should not only benefit students in public institutions.
He also appealed for scholarships to be made available to lecturers in private tertiary institutions to enable them pursue Doctoral programmes, thereby improving faculty capacity.
President Mahama, in his response, welcomed the delegation warmly and expressed appreciation for their support and prayers. He emphasised that private universities play a vital role in expanding access to higher education and deserve attention from the government.
To demonstrate his commitment, the President tasked the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, who was present at the meeting, to study the issues raised and make recommendations.
The CSU delegation included the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dr. Stephen Banahene; the Registrar, Mr. Andrews K. Doku; the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, Dr. Cynthia Akuoko; and the University Chaplain, Rev. Anthony Boateng Agyenim. Before their departure, they prayed for the President, his government, and the peace and prosperity of the nation.
Christian Service University, located in the Ashanti Region, is a leading private institution offering programmes in theology, business, health sciences, and applied sciences. Its call for support highlights broader challenges facing private universities across Ghana, particularly in the areas of funding, staffing, and student access.
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FROM David Afum, Kumasi