The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has been named Africa Outstanding University of the Year for 2025, while its Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto, also received the Africa Outstanding Leadership Award at the 4th Africa Education Summit held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) ON Saturday 21st March, 2026.
The summit, which brought together education leaders, policy makers and researchers from across the continent, was held under the theme “Advancing EdTech Integration in African Education: A Unified Roadmap for Action.”
The Chairman of the UCC Governing Council, Justice William Anaam Atuguba (Rtd), who received the university’s award on its behalf, described the recognition as a significant milestone for both the institution and Ghana’s higher education sector.
“This is a very pivotal award. It recognises the best university in Africa for this year, and that is not a small achievement,” he said.
Call for support
Justice Atuguba used the occasion to call on the government and other stakeholders to support the continued development of the university to sustain its global competitiveness.
He expressed concern about infrastructure challenges facing the university, particularly inadequate student accommodation and limited lecture facilities.
According to him, addressing these challenges was essential to enable UCC to maintain its position as a leading institution in Africa.
“If this university goes down, it means Ghana will have no university of excellence on the international stage, and that will affect the image of the country,” he said.
Commitment to excellence
Justice Atuguba said his engagement with the university since assuming office as council chairman had shown that UCC places strong emphasis on excellence in teaching, research and learning.
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He noted that the institution’s high academic standards had helped produce graduates capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
The council chairman further emphasised the role of universities as the think tanks of society, stressing that national progress depended on strong academic institutions capable of generating ideas and shaping policy.
Leadership recognition
At the same summit, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto, received the Africa Outstanding Leadership Award for 2025 in recognition of his contributions to leadership, innovation and transformation in higher education across Africa.
Speaking after receiving the award, Prof. Aheto attributed the recognition to teamwork, dedication and results-oriented leadership.
“I work selflessly and as if no one is watching. I focus on the goal and pursue it with hard work, teamwork and resourcefulness,” he said.
He explained that the honour was not only a personal achievement but also recognition of the collective efforts of the staff and partners of the University of Cape Coast.
Global visibility
Prof. Aheto said the awards would significantly enhance the global visibility of the university and strengthen its reputation as a leading institution of higher learning in Africa.
“This award certainly brings a feather to our cap as a university and will amplify our impact globally,” he said.
According to him, the recognition would attract new opportunities for partnerships in research, teaching and extension services.
“A lot of attention will be on the University of Cape Coast from different angles, and we believe this will open new opportunities for research and academic collaboration,” he added.
Appreciation
Prof. Aheto expressed appreciation to the Univeristy of Cape Coast Community, especially the Governing Council, University Management, staff of the Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice Chancellor’s Office and the Directorate of Public Affairs for their continued support and commitment to the university’s development.
Selection process
Organisers of the Africa Education Summit explained that the awards were based on nominations from across the world and evaluated according to the impact of individuals and institutions in education, research and community development.
They emphasised that the honours were awarded strictly on merit and aimed at encouraging excellence and innovation in education across Africa.
Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
