The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has appealed to the government for financial clearance to recruit more academic staff to foster effective academic work.

The request follows the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission’s (GTEC) directive on retirement, enjoining staff of universities who had attained the age of 60 to proceed on compulsory retirement.

Speaking at the climax of the university’s 58th congregation on Saturday, Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, indicated that 38 academic staff involving senior faculty in the ranks of professors, associate professors and senior lecturers had been affected by the directive.

He said many of them had to leave impromptu without any formal planning, a situation which had put a lot of constraints on the university’s administration.

He indicated it was not sustainable for the university to rely on part-time lecturers, particularly for the emerging programmes, stressing the need for permanent recruitments.

The climax of the 58th congregation was a special occasion for the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) where a total of 4,154 postgraduate students were honoured and duly graduated.

While the ninth session graduated 1,904 students, the 10th and final session graduated 2,250 students including 128 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduands.

Also among the graduands were 433 senior police officers who had successfully completed their postgraduate diploma in security studies, a programme which equipped them with enhanced analytical, managerial, and strategic skills to address complex security challenges.

Meanwhile, the university graduated a total of 13,388 undergraduates in the first to eighth sessions held from Tuesday to Friday, bringing the total number of graduates for the 58th congregation to 17,542.

Prof Aheto lamented the age-old infrastructure deficit in the university, particularly accommodation for students, which he said was taking a dire toll on enrolment and students’ welfare.

He noted that of the 11,500 students who enrolled in the 2024/2025 academic year, the university could only provide on-campus accommodation for nearly 6,000 students, leaving the rest to their own fate.

“Approximately 5,500 first year students require hostel accommodation while nearly 20,000 continuing students depend on private hostels in surrounding communities and neighbouring towns.

“The situation is further compounded by postgraduate students who also compete with undergraduate students for the limited facilities on and around campus,” he said.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor announced that the university’s governing council at its recent meeting considered a comprehensive proposal aimed at guiding strategic partnerships and sustainable financing mechanisms for students housing development as part of efforts to mitigate the challenge.

He called for strategic interventions and investment in student housing infrastructure, appealing to development partners, investors and all relevant stakeholders.

Prof Aheto reaffirmed UCC’s commitment to graduate education to foster quality teaching, research and community service.

He said SGS was contributing immensely to Ghana’s human capital development , research output, policy discourse and living up to the hallmark of the university.

Touching on the postgraduate diploma for the senior security officer, he said the course demonstrated UCC’s shared commitment to professional development, strategic leadership and national security.

“The department has also developed the top-up for the programme for a masters degree and hopefully by 2026, the programme will begin,” he announced.

In spite of the challenges, Prof Aheto said UCC was breaking barriers and setting the pace in many areas, especially in research.

Touching on some achievements, he said the university had been ranked first in Ghana and West Africa for fifth consecutive year and rated 11th in Africa by the Times Higher Education in its 2026 World University Rankings.

Justice William Anaam Atuguba, Chairman of Governing Council, reminded the granduands of their responsibility to society and entreated them to deploy their expertise with integrity, humanity and a strong sense of social responsibility.