UCC School of Business @50: Stakeholders call for major infrastructural investment

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) School of Business has used its 50th anniversary celebrations to make a strong case for urgent and sustained investment in infrastructure to support its expanding academic programmes and growing student population.

The school used the occasion to appeal to the government, GETFund, corporate institutions, alumni and development partners to support its infrastructural development, saying it was critical for achieving excellence in business education.

At the grand durbar marking the climax of the school’s golden jubilee celebrations in December, the Dean of the UCC School of Business, Professor Samuel Kwaku Agyei, revealed that the school required an estimated GH¢180 million to bridge critical infrastructure gaps, particularly to support postgraduate and executive-level programmes.

The 50th anniversary celebration, held on the theme: “Expanding the Frontiers of Business Excellence,” brought renewed national attention to the School’s achievements — and its pressing needs. 

Speaking at the ceremony held at the New Examination Centre, Prof. Agyei noted that while the school had made remarkable strides over the past five decades in business education, research and industry engagement, its physical infrastructure had not kept pace with increasing demand.

“The School of Business has grown significantly in student numbers, academic staff strength and programme offerings. However, our infrastructure has become overstretched. To sustain quality and meet global standards, we urgently need modern facilities, especially a dedicated postgraduate complex,” he stated.

He stressed the need to address infrastructure deficits as this would be critical to maintaining academic quality, expanding postgraduate education and strengthening the school’s contribution to Ghana’s economic development.

Pressure for postgraduate expansion

The Dean explained that the school was preparing to introduce advanced programmes, including a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), in response to industry and national development needs.

These programmes, he stressed, required specialised lecture halls, research spaces, faculty offices and modern learning technology.

“Our ambition to expand postgraduate education and executive training will be severely constrained without deliberate investment in infrastructure,” he added.

Stakeholders echo infrastructure concerns

Several speakers at the durbar also echoed the call for infrastructure development as a foundation for sustaining excellence in business education.

The Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies (CHLS), Professor Daniel Agyapong, challenged the school to align infrastructure development with innovation and technology-driven teaching to meet the changing demands of industry.

The Chancellor of the University, Dr Sir Sam Jonah, cautioned against complacency, urging stakeholders to support facilities that would produce ethical, innovative and market-ready graduates.

Sir Sam Jonah challenged the School not to rest on their laurels but continue to produce graduates who are of integrity, innovative, ethical and have the desire to be job creators and not job seekers. 

“World-class graduates are produced in world-class environments. Infrastructure is not a luxury; it is a necessity for competitiveness and relevance,” he said.

A former Finance Minister and Government Advisor on the Economy, Seth Terkper, also underscored the need for governance-focused training, noting that adequate facilities were essential for shaping responsible future business leaders.

The acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Denis Aheto, advised the School to keep pace with the highly dynamic business environment in which businesses operate by producing graduates who are alive to current national needs

Alumni and industry backing

Some alumni of the school, including John Awuah, CEO of the Ghana Association of Bankers, and Dr (Mrs) Pamela Des Bordes of Ernst & Young, reiterated the need for modern infrastructure that would help bridge the gap between theory and practice by enabling case-based learning, applied research and stronger industry collaboration.

The Executive Chair of the Business and Financial Times, Dr Edith Dankwa, called for stronger partnerships to support infrastructure that will position the School as a hub of policy-relevant business research.

As part of its anniversary legacy project, the school proposed the construction of a postgraduate complex, estimated at GH¢180 million, to cater for postgraduate students, executive programmes and research activities.

To help achieve this, a dedicated School of Business Development Fund was established to mobilise resources for the project.