President John Dramani Mahama has announced a GHS100 million support package for technical universities across the country as part of efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education and improve infrastructure within the sector.
The President made the announcement during the ARCTUG 2026 conference held at Takoradi Technical University in the Western Region. The event brought together academics, researchers, innovators, education officials, and stakeholders in Ghana’s technical university sector to discuss research, innovation, and national development.
“Nations are no longer competing solely based on natural resources. They compete in ideas. They compete on skills, technology, productivity and the ability to convert research into economic value.”
President John Dramani Mahama
According to him, conferences centered on research and innovation should be regarded as strategic national platforms because they contribute directly to a country’s future competitiveness and economic transformation.
Reflection on Polytechnic Conversion
President Mahama used the occasion to reflect on the decision taken a decade ago during his first administration to convert polytechnics into technical universities. He described the policy as a bold step that initially faced criticism but has since proven beneficial to the country’s education sector.
“This gathering holds special significance for me personally and for the nation. Exactly 10 years ago in this very auditorium, we took the bold decision to convert the polytechnics into technical universities.”
President John Dramani Mahama
He acknowledged that there were doubts about the transition at the time but maintained that the reform has yielded positive outcomes.
“There were a lot of naysayers. Today, we can be proud of the work that we did, but there is still more work to do in terms of infrastructure and putting in the essentials that will improve learning outcomes.”
President John Dramani Mahama
The President noted that despite the progress made over the years, technical universities still require significant investment in infrastructure, equipment, and learning resources to fully achieve their mandate.
GHS10 Million Seed Funding for Institutions
President Mahama announced that after consultations with the Minister for Education, government had decided to allocate GHS10 million as seed funding to each technical university in the country.
According to him, the intervention is intended to support infrastructure expansion and improve the quality of education delivery within the institutions.
“There is still a lot of work to do and so we consulted quickly with the Minister of Education and decided that we will provide the 10 million seed money to each technical university”.
President John Dramani Mahama
The announcement was welcomed by participants at the conference, many of whom have consistently called for increased investment in technical and vocational education to support skills development and industrial growth.
Education Ministry Reaffirms Commitment
Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu also assured stakeholders that the government remains committed to securing adequate funding for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
He said the ministry recognizes the critical role technical universities play in equipping young people with practical skills needed for economic growth, industrialization, and technological advancement.
The Minister added that sustained investment in TVET education would help position Ghana to compete effectively in an increasingly technology driven global economy.
According to him, government intends to continue engaging stakeholders to ensure that technical universities are properly resourced to deliver quality education and innovation.
Expectations for the Future
The conference also focused on the long term contribution technical universities are expected to make toward national development.
President Mahama expressed optimism that within the next decade there would be visible evidence of the impact technical universities have made in supporting Ghana’s industrial and economic transformation.
Stakeholders at the event shared similar expectations, emphasizing that technical universities must continue to strengthen research, innovation, and industry collaboration to remain relevant to national development goals.
For many participants, the ARCTUG 2026 conference served as an opportunity to assess the progress made since the transition from polytechnics while also identifying areas that require further attention.
Discussions at the event highlighted the growing importance of technical education in preparing graduates with employable skills and practical expertise needed by industry.
Focus on Research and Innovation
President Mahama stressed that countries seeking sustainable development must invest in knowledge, innovation, and human capital development.
He said the ability to transform research into economic value has become a major factor in determining the competitiveness of nations in the global economy.
The newly announced funding package is expected to support technical universities in expanding infrastructure, improving academic delivery, and strengthening innovation driven programmes.
Participants at the conference expressed hope that consistent government support for technical education would help create a stronger workforce capable of driving national productivity and industrial development.
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