UCC appoints Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto as new Vice-Chancellor
The Governing Council of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has appointed Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto as the new Vice-Chancellor of the institution, effective August 1, 2026.
The decision was taken at a Special Meeting of the Governing Council held on Thursday, May 15, 2026, marking a major leadership transition at one of Ghana’s premier public universities.
A statement signed by the Registrar, Gideon Enoch Abbeyquaye, confirmed that Professor Aheto, who currently serves as Acting Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor, will officially assume the substantive role in August.
Professor Aheto’s elevation follows years of service in senior academic and administrative positions within UCC, where he has been closely involved in institutional governance, research leadership, and capacity-building initiatives.
He is widely known for his work in coastal ecology and marine resource management, particularly through his role as Director of the Centre for Coastal Management at UCC. He has also led several high-value international research and development projects, including USAID-supported fisheries and coastal management programmes and initiatives funded by the Danish Foreign Ministry.
Collectively, these projects have attracted funding in excess of US$12 million, reinforcing UCC’s reputation as a leading centre for marine and environmental research in the sub-region.
Professor Aheto has also represented Ghana in several international scientific and policy platforms across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and has contributed extensively to academic literature, with over 25 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, including Nature and PLOS ONE.
He previously served as Head of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from 2012 to 2016 and played a key role in the establishment of the Centre for Coastal Management at UCC.
Beyond academia, he has been involved in national and international advisory roles, including membership of Ghana’s implementation committee for the proposed Anomabo Fisheries College, the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Committee under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Board for Professional and Technical Examinations (NABPTEX).
He has also served on accreditation review panels for institutions, including the University of Energy and Natural Resources and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and is a member of the UN Pool of Experts on the State of the Marine Environment.
The Governing Council is expected to formally induct him into office in August, ushering in a new phase of leadership for UCC.
