The University of Ghana has emerged as a top-tier institution in the 2024 Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings, securing fifth place on the continent and maintaining its position as the leading university in Ghana.
This achievement places the University of Ghana ahead of numerous institutions, cementing its status as the premier educational establishment in West Africa.
With an impressive overall score of 74.3, the University of Ghana has excelled in various key performance metrics, reaffirming its commitment to excellence in education, research, and societal impact.
The rankings assess universities across Africa based on five pillars: resources and finance; access and fairness; student engagement; ethical leadership; and Africa impact.
Among its notable achievements, the University of Ghana earned a stellar score of 79.7 in ethical leadership, showcasing its dedication to nurturing responsible leaders who prioritize integrity and social accountability.
A student engagement score of 79.6 reflects the University’s commitment to creating an inclusive and stimulating academic environment, while its Africa impact score of 78.8 underscores its contributions to addressing critical challenges through innovative research and community engagement.
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The University also emphasizes equitable access to education, evident in its score of 75.2 for access and fairness, showcasing efforts to ensure opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.
In the resources and finance pillar, the University recorded a score of 61.3, demonstrating effective resource management despite financial constraints that challenge higher education institutions in the region.
These accomplishments align with the University of Ghana’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, which focuses on transformative student experiences, impactful research, and sustainable resource mobilization and stewardship.
This recognition highlights Ghana’s growing prominence in higher education, with an average score of 57 across 11 ranked institutions, making Ghana the second-best performing country in the region.
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The rankings, designed to address regional challenges, evaluate areas such as access for marginalized groups, leadership development, and preserving African heritage.
The introduction of ethical leadership as a new pillar in 2024 emphasizes the importance of cultivating leadership skills and moral values in students, resonating with the University of Ghana’s strategic objectives.
Top 10 Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa
Here are the top ten universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the 2024 rankings:
| Rank | University | Country/Region |
| 1 | University of Johannesburg | South Africa |
| 2 | University of Pretoria | South Africa |
| 3 | University of the Witwatersrand | South Africa |
| 4 | UGHE – University of Global Health Equity | Rwanda |
| 5 | University of Ghana | Ghana |
| 6 | University of Rwanda | Rwanda |
| 7 | SIMAD University | Somalia |
| 8 | Makerere University | Uganda |
| 9 | Ashesi University | Ghana |
| 10 | University of KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa |
The advisory board for the Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings includes prominent figures such as Sylvia Kunkyebe (Mastercard Foundation), Juliet Thondhlana (UNESCO Chair in International Education and Development, University of Nottingham, UK), and Patrick Awuah (Founder and President, Ashesi University, Ghana).
Their expertise ensured that the methodology employed for the rankings remained regionally relevant and rigorous.