University of Ghana (UG)

The University of Ghana is Ghana's oldest and one of its most influential universities, with institutional origins dating to 1948 when it was established as the University College of the Gold Coast. It became an independent university in 1961 and has since developed into a major public research institution with a broad academic portfolio spanning the humanities, social sciences, sciences, health sciences, education and other professional disciplines. Based at Legon in Accra, the university has played a central role in Ghana's intellectual, professional and national development while establishing a substantial research and international collaboration footprint across Africa and beyond. Its institutional ecosystem includes major research and knowledge centres such as the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and a wide network of academic schools, institutes and centres. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, the University of Ghana retained its position as the highest-ranked university in Ghana and West Africa, while the 2027 QS and Times Higher Education rankings released in 2026 continued to place it among the leading universities in Africa.