Ghana’s public universities may need to rethink their financial model as govern/ment funding pressures force institutions to explore research commercialisation, industry partnerships and new sources of revenue, according to Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Sir Samuel Esson Jonah.
Addressing the university community during the investiture of Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto as Vice-Chancellor, Sir Sam Jonah warned that reliance on government subventions alone was becoming difficult to sustain and urged universities to develop stronger economic links with industry.
“The public purse which built this university can no longer sustain it,” he said, arguing that universities must become institutions capable of generating value through research, innovation and partnerships.
The comments highlight a long-running financing challenge facing Ghana’s tertiary education sector. Public universities have historically depended heavily on government support, while rising enrolment, infrastructure needs and research demands have increased pressure on institutional budgets.
Sam Jonah argued that a modern university must not only consume public resources but also create economic value through innovation, enterprise and commercial partnerships.
“A university that waits for subvention is a university planning its own funeral with a very fine brochure,” he said.
His remarks come as governments globally push universities to play a bigger role in economic development by linking academic research with commercial opportunities.
The issue is closely connected to industrialisation in Ghana. Businesses require research support, skilled workers and innovation capacity, but weak university-industry collaboration has often limited the commercial impact of academic research.
Sam Jonah pointed to the example of Professor Aheto’s previous work, saying one research centre established under his leadership had mobilised more than $30 million, supported more than 400 scholarships and trained over 50 PhD graduates.
The Chancellor argued that similar models could provide a pathway for universities to diversify funding while contributing directly to national development.
“The university I have described is not a beggar university,” he said. “It is a university with revenue, patents, industry partners at the gate, and gifts from alumni.”
The proposed model would see universities operate more like innovation ecosystems, where research centres, student projects and industry partnerships generate economic value.
Such an approach could support sectors including agriculture, energy, technology and manufacturing, where Ghana continues to seek greater domestic capacity and private-sector growth.
He also highlighted possible international partnerships, including discussions with foreign universities and industrial groups interested in developing African-led platforms connecting universities, governments and businesses around development projects.
However, he stressed that partnerships must support Ghana’s priorities rather than determine them.
“Africa must define the priorities. Partners should expand our capabilities. We should determine our own outcomes,” he said.
The financing challenge is particularly relevant as Ghana works to strengthen its knowledge economy. Research and development investment remains relatively low compared with advanced economies, limiting universities’ ability to commercialise discoveries and support innovation-driven businesses.
A stronger university-enterprise model could also create opportunities for investors by opening new channels for collaboration in areas such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, agriculture technology and healthcare.
But analysts and policymakers will need to watch how universities balance commercial activities with academic independence. Expanding revenue streams requires governance systems that protect research quality while ensuring public institutions remain accessible.
Professor Aheto’s tenure will therefore be closely monitored as UCC attempts to combine academic excellence with financial sustainability.
“The university you must lead has not fully existed yet. You must build it,” he told the incoming Vice-Chancellor.
