Ghana’s leader emphasizes unified academic efforts at ACE@10 conference in Accra as critical to the continent’s future
Accra, Ghana – April 7, 2025 — President John Dramani Mahama has called on African nations to deepen regional collaboration in higher education and scientific research, warning that the continent’s most urgent development challenges cannot be tackled by countries acting in isolation.
Delivering the keynote address at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence (ACE) Programme in Accra, Mahama emphasized that only a united academic front can confront Africa’s major issues—ranging from food insecurity and climate change to public health threats and digital transformation.
“No single African nation can solve these multifaceted problems alone,” Mahama stated. “It is through joint efforts—academic collaboration, research partnerships, and investment in young minds—that we can secure the future we envision.”
The event, which brought together education ministers, university leaders, researchers, policymakers, and development partners, marked a decade of achievements under the ACE Programme—a flagship initiative launched in 2014 to bolster postgraduate education and applied research capacity across West and Central Africa.
Equipping Africa’s Youth for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
President Mahama’s address was future-focused, highlighting the need to train Africa’s youth in emerging fields and empower them with entrepreneurial and technical skills. He stressed that innovation and technological competence will be decisive in determining the continent’s position in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“Through sustained academic engagement and coordinated investment, we can equip the next generation with the technical and entrepreneurial skills to harness new technologies, drive local innovation, and position Africans as a competitive force on the global stage,” he said.
He further pledged Ghana’s commitment to the regional knowledge agenda: “Ghana will remain firmly committed to deepening regional collaborations in higher education and research.”
A Decade of Impact: ACE Programme’s Success
The ACE Programme, supported by the World Bank and African governments, was established to address critical skill gaps in sectors essential to Africa’s development. In its first decade, it has facilitated the creation of over 50 centers of excellence across 11 countries, with areas of focus including agriculture, health sciences, sustainable energy, water resource management, and digital innovation.
These centers have produced more than 10,000 master’s and doctoral graduates, published over 4,500 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, and created hundreds of partnerships with private sector firms and international research institutions.
“ACE has transformed how we think about education in Africa—not just as a national issue but as a regional development imperative,” said Dr. Sheila Kinkade, World Bank Regional Director for Human Development. “It has helped create a generation of African researchers solving African problems with global relevance.”
Collaboration Over Competition: A Regional Education Vision
The ACE@10 conference was held under the theme “Regional Knowledge Partnerships for a Resilient Africa”, underscoring the vital role of cross-border academic partnerships. Speakers emphasized the need to reduce fragmentation in African education systems and instead promote student mobility, co-authored research, and joint academic programs.
Dr. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Executive Secretary of the Association of African Universities, said: “We must move from declarations to actionable strategies. Regional integration in higher education requires harmonized accreditation standards, mutual recognition of qualifications, and sustainable funding frameworks.”
Participants also highlighted the importance of building research infrastructure that can be shared across institutions and borders—such as joint laboratories, data repositories, and innovation hubs—especially in under-resourced regions.
Ghana’s Role in Regional Education Leadership
Ghana is home to several ACE centers of excellence, including those focused on infectious diseases, agricultural innovation, climate resilience, and engineering. These centers have not only enhanced local research capacity but have also served as academic homes to thousands of students from neighboring countries such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
President Mahama’s remarks reaffirmed Ghana’s position as a leader in advancing the knowledge economy on the continent. Under his previous and current leadership, Ghana has invested heavily in upgrading tertiary education infrastructure, expanding research funding, and aligning curricula with labor market demands.
Calls for Inclusive Education and Gender Equity
A recurring message throughout the ACE@10 event was the need to ensure inclusion in Africa’s academic transformation. President Mahama and several speakers emphasized that women and marginalized communities must be intentionally included in STEM fields and leadership roles.
“We must ensure that our daughters, just like our sons, are empowered to lead in science, technology, and innovation,” Mahama said. “Africa cannot afford to waste the potential of half its population.”
Voices from the Next Generation
Student representatives from various ACE institutions shared testimonials on how the program has empowered them to tackle real-world problems. Ama Koffie, a PhD student in Environmental Engineering at an ACE center in Kumasi, said the support she received has enabled her to conduct fieldwork that directly benefits rural communities.
“I’ve worked on water purification systems that are now being piloted in three villages. That would not have been possible without this program,” she said.
A Springboard for Africa’s Future
As Africa faces increasingly complex development challenges, the ACE@10 celebration served not only as a commemoration of the past decade but also as a launchpad for the next phase of academic transformation.
The World Bank and the Association of African Universities announced plans to expand the program’s reach, with new funding commitments expected to support additional centers in Central and Southern Africa, as well as new disciplines such as AI and biotechnology.
“Higher education must be the driver of Africa’s transformation,” said Prof. Jean-Pierre Onana, Director of ACE in Cameroon. “Our graduates are not just getting degrees—they’re becoming changemakers.”
Conclusion: Unity Through Knowledge
President Mahama concluded his address with a powerful appeal: “This is not just about education. It’s about the survival and progress of our continent. We must act together, think together, and rise together. Only then can we build a smarter, stronger, and more self-reliant Africa.”
