Professor John Gartchie Gatsi has officially ended his tenure as Dean of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) School of Business, marking the conclusion of a six-year period defined by expansion, innovation, and increased academic visibility. Professor Samuel Kwaku Agyei has been named as his successor and will officially assume the role on August 1, 2025. Until then, he serves as acting Dean to ensure a seamless transition.
During a formal Dean’s Award event held on May 29, Professor Gatsi returned briefly from his new role at the Bank of Ghana to express gratitude to faculty, students, and institutional partners. His leadership is credited with raising the School’s national profile, enhancing postgraduate offerings, and expanding the faculty base significantly.
Under his tenure, the School developed several postgraduate programs tailored to national development needs, including specialized offerings for the Ghana Armed Forces and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. The School is also awaiting final accreditation to launch a Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Engineering, while newly introduced Master of Philosophy and Master of Science programs in Health Services Administration have already been advertised.
Additionally, the School has received notification from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to prepare for an accreditation panel review for its upcoming Doctor of Business Administration program, targeted to commence later this year. Two new undergraduate programs in entrepreneurship, one combined with international business and the other with graphic design, have also been introduced, reflecting the School’s responsive curriculum strategy.
Strategic collaborations are also underway. The School of Business is working closely with the School of Economics to develop a new postgraduate course and partnering with the Institute for Oil and Gas Studies to offer a Bachelor of Science in Energy Studies and Management.
Professor Gatsi’s leadership saw notable growth in faculty development. From having no full professors in 2019, the School now boasts nine professors, ten associate professors, and twenty-four senior lecturers. While the number of assistant lecturers declined during this period, targeted recruitment efforts have brought in new female faculty in accounting, finance, and marketing, part of a broader commitment to gender representation and mentorship.
Looking forward, the School is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary of business education on June 19, with alumni invited to support infrastructural and logistical projects, including the rehabilitation of an older school building and the construction of a student summer hut complex.
The School of Business has also maintained membership in the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for the past four years, with ambitions to attain full accreditation in the near future.
As Prof. Gatsi bows out, his successor inherits a growing institution with a stronger academic foundation, broader program offerings, and deeper ties to industry and professional bodies.
