Central University has officially inducted Professor Samuel Kwasi Dartey-Baah as its new Vice-Chancellor, marking the beginning of a new and promising chapter in the institution’s journey of academic excellence and transformational leadership.

The investiture ceremony, held on Wednesday, October 22, at Trinity Hall on the Miotso campus, brought together a distinguished audience including academic leaders, clergy, traditional rulers, diplomatic representatives, students, and members of the university community.

The ceremony was officiated by the Chancellor of the University, Dr Mensa Otabil, who charged Professor Dartey-Baah to lead with faith, integrity, and excellence, reminding all present that “whoever desires to become great must first be a servant.”

A Vision for the Future: “Building on Legacy, Leading with Vision”

In his inaugural address, themed “Building on Legacy, Leading with Vision,” Professor Dartey-Baah expressed his deep gratitude to God, his family, and the University Council for the trust placed in him.

He acknowledged the exemplary leadership of his predecessor, Professor Bill Buenar Puplampu, under whose tenure the university saw remarkable growth in enrolment, academic innovation, and global visibility.

Professor Dartey-Baah outlined a bold vision for transforming Central University into a model 21st-century African university, built on five strategic pillars:

1. Promoting Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Research
2. Fostering a Student-Centred Environment
3. Ensuring Financial Sustainability
4. Enhancing Brand, Compliance, and Community Engagement
5. Cultivating a High-Performance Work Environment
6. He announced plans to establish key research clusters, a Research Management Office, expanded student support systems, and private-sector partnerships to improve university infrastructure.

Additionally, he committed to operationalising the University Hospital and enhancing career services, internships, and mentorship programs.

Faith, Innovation, and National Purpose

As a faith-based institution, Central University continues to affirm its Kingdom foundation. Professor Dartey-Baah pledged to uphold this identity while integrating faith with innovation, especially through biblically grounded research via the Daniel Institute, and education that balances theology, science, and social relevance.

Addressing the national context, Professor Dartey-Baah emphasised the urgent need to align higher education with the realities of Ghana’s economy.

“We cannot build a 21st-century Ghana on a 20th-century higher education model,” he said, advocating for education that drives innovation, entrepreneurship, and national development.

A Call for Equity and National Inclusion

In a passionate appeal to the Government of Ghana, the Vice-Chancellor called for policy parity and support for private universities, noting their critical role in national development.

“We are not asking for favours. We are asking for fairness,” he stated, highlighting the need for research funding, infrastructure support, and faculty development across all tertiary institutions.

About the New Vice-Chancellor

Professor Samuel Kwasi Dartey-Baah is a renowned academic, leadership scholar, and organisational development expert.

He holds three doctoral degrees in Leadership, Human Resource Development, and Business Management, with engineering qualifications from Imperial College London and KNUST.

He has held notable leadership positions at the University of Ghana and has consulted on multi-disciplinary projects in the UK and Ghana.

An accomplished researcher and mentor, Professor Dartey-Baah is globally recognised for the Transformational Leadership Theory, a framework that merges transformational and transactional leadership for complex organisational settings.

He is a Fellow of the Ghana Institution of Management, a Corporate Member of the Ghana Institution of Engineering, and affiliated with several international professional bodies.

Stewardship, Hope, and Shared Responsibility

Professor Dartey-Baah concluded his address with a call to collective action, urging faculty, staff, students, alumni, government, and civil society to join in the task of raising virtuous and transformational leaders.

“We are not just educating minds; we are shaping destinies. Let us rise to the moment with bold ideas, firm resolve, and unwavering hope.”