The Private Universities Founders Association (PUFA)-Ghana has commended President John Dramani Mahama for what it describes as a historic engagement and a strategic policy shift on the chartering of private universities.

The Association said it was grateful to the President and Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, for granting PUFA an audience at the Jubilee House to discuss pressing issues affecting the private tertiary education sector.

In a statement issued in Accra, signed by Dr Paul Kofi Fynn, President of (PUFA)-Ghana, PUFA noted that the engagement provided an opportunity to address concerns surrounding the government’s new policy direction to make the chartering of private universities optional rather than mandatory within a specified timeframe.

According to the Association, the meeting marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time PUFA had been granted an audience with the President, with the Vice-President also in attendance.

PUFA said the high-level engagement signalled government recognition of private universities as a critical component of Ghana’s education system and underscored the administration’s commitment to the growth and sustainability of the sector.

The Association expressed encouragement over what it described as the government’s openness to dialogue and its proactive decision to review the mandatory time-bound chartering requirement, noting that the move would help address sustainability challenges facing private universities.

PUFA reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the government to ensure that tertiary education in Ghana remains competitive, inclusive and aligned with global standards.

Below is the full statement by PUFA