UCC Honours Kwesi Pratt Jnr. as Frank Adu Jnr. Assumes Chancellorship at AUCB

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the African University College of Communications and Business (AUCB) marked significant leadership milestones this September, celebrating veteran contributions to journalism and the start of a new era in digital-focused higher education. At a special congregation held on September 18, 2026, UCC conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) on veteran journalist and Pan-Africanist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. The honor recognizes Pratt’s decades of commitment to independent journalism, democracy, and the ideals of African emancipation. During the ceremony, UCC Chancellor Sir Sam Jonah praised Pratt’s role in shaping public discourse, while Vice-Chancellor Prof. Denis Aheto highlighted the university's growth, including new student accommodation and an advanced e-Campus.

Speaking at the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures held alongside the congregation, Sir Sam Jonah urged Ghanaians to pivot from debating Kwame Nkrumah’s political legacy toward emulating his practical nation-building initiatives. He emphasized that the first President’s focus on industrialization and infrastructure, such as the Akosombo Dam, remains the blueprint for modern development. Jonah challenged academic institutions to move beyond theoretical arguments and engage in actionable knowledge production that addresses contemporary national aspirations. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. echoed these sentiments, reflecting on the enduring influence of Nkrumah’s Pan-African ideals on his own lifelong struggle for African unity.

Simultaneously in Accra, the African University College of Communications and Business (AUCB) inaugurated Mr. Frank B. Adu Jnr., the former Managing Director of CalBank, as its first Chancellor. Following the institution’s receipt of a presidential charter, Adu Jnr. outlined a transformative five-point vision aimed at making AUCB a digitally driven, financially self-sustaining leader in higher education. He pledged to modernize the curriculum by integrating artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital literacy across all programs. Adu Jnr. emphasized the necessity of ‘practice-ready’ graduates, proposing an industry-embedded model where practitioners actively participate in teaching and students utilize technology-focused facilities to prepare for a digital economy.

Adding to the season of institutional milestones, the Ghana Fellowship of Evangelical Students (GHAFES) made history by inducting Amma Asamoabea Eleblu as its first female Board Chairperson during its 60th-anniversary celebrations at the University of Ghana. Succeeding Ing. Kwame Kpekpena, Eleblu—an experienced leader and entrepreneur—committed to strengthening the organization's governance and financial sustainability while fostering deeper engagement between students and alumni. Collectively, these developments across UCC, AUCB, and GHAFES signal a period of renewal in Ghana’s educational landscape, characterized by a dual focus on honoring historical legacies and embracing the technological demands of the future.