Don't Exclude Private Universities from Government Support - Archbishop Agyinasare
Accra, Ghana - 30 June, 2025 - Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, Founder and Chancellor of Perez University College, has made a passionate appeal to the government to extend financial support to private universities, warning that excluding them from government policy risks undermining access to higher education in Ghana.
Speaking at the 9th Congregation Ceremony of Perez University College, Archbishop Agyinasare commended the government's initiative to pay first-year fees for students in public universities and the pilot extension of free education to selected private secondary schools.
''We commend the payment of first-year fees for students in public universities and the pilot extension of free education to selected private secondary schools,” he said. “But government universities alone cannot absorb the educational aspirations of all Ghanaians. Thousands of qualified students are left out each year. Private universities fill that gap and deserve similar support
However, he emphasized that government universities alone cannot absorb the educational aspirations of all Ghanaians, and private universities fill a critical gap.
"We commend the payment of first-year fees for students in public universities and the pilot extension of free education to selected private secondary schools," he said. "But government universities alone cannot absorb the educational aspirations of all Ghanaians. Thousands of qualified students are left out each year. Private universities fill that gap and deserve similar support."
Archbishop Agyinasare proposed subsidies, grants, or fee assistance programs for private tertiary institutions as a way to expand access, especially as Ghana seeks to build a skilled workforce to power a 24-hour economy.
He argued that by partnering with private universities, the government can deepen its national development agenda and avoid creating a two-tier education system.
The Chancellor also highlighted the importance of private universities in driving economic transformation, noting that Perez University College is committed to academic and moral excellence. He urged graduates to lead with integrity and values, reject corruption, and become drivers of innovation in a 24-hour economic framework.
In his remarks, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdullai, Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), commended Archbishop Agyinasare for his dedication to tertiary education and his instrumental role in the transformation of Perez University College.
''He has been at the forefront of the success story of the university college since the days of the erstwhile National Accreditation Board (NAB) and has taken a personal interest in ensuring the university college's adherence to accreditation policies and regulations, and he needs to be commended for his selfless dedication to tertiary educational delivery in this country.”
He also praised the university for its impact on widening access to tertiary education in Ghana and beyond.
This attests to how far the university has come and the impact it continues to have on widening access to tertiary educational delivery in Ghana and beyond.”
Read Archbishop Agyinasare’s full speech below:
Speech by the Founder and Chancellor of Perez University College
Delivered at the 9th Congregation Ceremony
Theme: “Redefining Ghana’s Future: Graduates at the Heart of Economic Reset and 24-Hour Economy”
Archbishop Charles Agyinasare
Date: Friday, 28th June 2025
Venue: Perez Dome, Dzorwulu
Co-Founder, PCI, Rev Mrs Vivian Agyinasare, Hon Sam Nartey George, Minister of Communication and Innovation, Prof Ahmed Jinapor, Director General of GTEC, Hon Kwame Asare Obeng (A-Plus) our Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central constituency, Distinguished Guests, Members of Council, Rector, Faculty and Staff, Proud Parents and Guardians, Honoured Graduates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
It is with immense joy and a heart full of gratitude to God that I welcome you to the 9th Congregation Ceremony of Perez University College. Today is a moment of achievement, of transition, and of hope—not just for our graduates, but for our nation, Ghana.
To the Class of 2025 and other years, I say Ayekoo! You have crossed a significant milestone. You have persevered through demanding lectures, long nights of study, and the pressures of academic pursuit. You have overcome challenges—some personal, some national—and today, you wear your gowns not just as a symbol of accomplishment but as a mantle of responsibility.
Graduates as Nation Builders
This year’s theme, “Redefining Ghana’s Future: Graduates at the Heart of Economic Reset and 24-Hour Economy”, is not just aspirational—it is prophetic. We are living in times when the status quo will no longer suffice. Ghana needs a reset. The continent needs renewal. And at the heart of this transformation must be you—our graduates.
In a nation where youth unemployment threatens our stability, where productivity is limited by outdated systems, and where our economy calls for innovation and resilience, you must rise—not just with certificates in your hands but with solutions in your hearts.
Whether you studied Accounting, Business Administration, Theology, Computer Science, or Education, Ghana is asking, “What problem can you solve?”
Lead with Values and Vision
As graduates of Perez University College, your training has not been merely academic—it has been holistic. We have nurtured you not only in knowledge but in character. We did not just train your minds; we also shaped your spirits.
The world is full of people with degrees but short on people with integrity. We have too many experts but not enough leaders. So I charge you: Let your light shine with humility, ethics, and service. Be men and women who will say no to corruption, yes to excellence, no to mediocrity, and yes to national transformation.
Be the Heartbeat of the 24-Hour Economy
As Ghana explores a 24-hour economic model to increase productivity, employment, and global competitiveness, your innovation, flexibility, and adaptability will be key. Whether in health care, manufacturing, logistics, fintech, or entrepreneurship, you must think beyond traditional limits.
Start small if you must, but start! Use technology. Form collaborations. Build sustainable businesses. Improve systems. Become employers—not just employees. Ghana’s night must be productive as its day, and you are the generation to make it so.
Be Ambassadors of Perez University College
Remember where you are coming from. You are the products of a Christian university founded on biblical truth, visionary leadership, and excellence. Carry our name with pride. When you walk into boardrooms, laboratories, classrooms, and digital spaces, walk in as an ambassador of Perez University College.
Let your attitude, professionalism, and performance make people ask, “Where were you trained?” Let them say of you as they said of Daniel in Babylon, “In whom is the spirit of excellence.”
Remain Lifelong Learners and Visionaries
Remember, this is not the end of your education—it is only the beginning. The world is changing rapidly. Stay hungry for knowledge. Stay open to correction. Remain humble enough to learn and bold enough to lead.
As scripture reminds us in Proverbs 4:7, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
President John Mahama Remember Private Universities
While we commend the government’s progressive initiative to pay first-year fees for students entering government universities and the pilot program extending free education to select private secondary schools, we respectfully urge you, Mr. President, not to overlook the critical role that private universities play in Ghana’s educational landscape.
The harsh reality is that government universities, despite their excellence, simply cannot accommodate the growing educational aspirations of all Ghanaians, leaving thousands of qualified students without access to higher education each year. Private universities have stepped in to bridge this gap, providing quality tertiary education and absorbing the overflow of students who would otherwise be denied the opportunity to pursue their academic dreams.
Just as the government has recognised the value of partnering with private secondary schools in the free education pilot program, we believe that extending similar support to private universities—whether through subsidies, grants, or fee assistance programs—would significantly expand access to higher education and ensure that no Ghanaian student is left behind due to limited capacity in the public sector.
This approach would not only democratise education but also play a vital role in training skilled personnel to undergird the government’s 24-hour economy initiative, equipping the workforce with the necessary competencies to drive economic growth and innovation. By investing in private universities, we can strengthen Ghana’s human resource development, enhance productivity, and contribute meaningfully to national progress.
Infrastructure Development
Perez Chapel International has constructed a fully air-conditioned, 24-room lecture facility in Dzorwulu, and an application has been submitted to GTEC for its approval as an academic centre. This facility is intended to serve many of our working members and followers in the city who aspire to pursue university education.
Furthermore, as of yesterday, the Church successfully negotiated the development of an AstroTurf football field with a 500-seat capacity and a basketball court at the Pomadze Campus. The project is expected to be completed within 12 weeks. These sports facilities will not only enhance the physical well-being of students but also promote teamwork, discipline, and leadership—key elements in holistic education and personal development. They will provide a balanced learning environment where academic excellence is complemented by physical activity and social interaction.
Conclusion
Dear graduates, Ghana is not waiting for tomorrow’s leaders. It is crying out for today’s reformers. The economy may look uncertain, but every crisis carries within it an opportunity like the good book says, “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.”1 Corinthians.
You are that opportunity. You are the heartbeat of the reset. You are the change we have been praying for.
So go with courage. Go with conviction. Go with Christ. And may you redefine not only your future, but the future of our beloved Ghana.
God bless you all, and congratulations once again!
Thank you.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT, I HEREBY FORMALLY CONSTITUTE THE ASSEMBLY OF THE 9TH CONGREGATION OF PEREZ UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.
Source: Lead Newss Online
