Parliament Passes Bill: Tertiary Institutions Must Secure Charter in 6 Years (Private Universities Raise Concerns)
Parliament has passed the Education Regulatory Bodies Amendment Bill, 2026. This bill makes big changes to Ghana’s tertiary education system by requiring all affiliated tertiary institutions to get a Charter within six years instead of the previous ten-year mentorship period. On February 4, 2026, Deputy Minister of Education Clement Abas Apaak brought the Bill to Parliament on behalf of Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu. This was in accordance with Article 106 (4) and (5) of the 1992 Constitution. After its first reading, it was sent to the Education Committee. Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe, the committee’s chairman, presented the report, which thanked the Ministry of Education, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and the Private Universities Founders Association for their help. The goal of the reform is to speed up the process of making institutions more independent in a field that has grown a lot in the last 30 years thanks to private universities, which have made higher education more accessible and encouraged new ideas. But some private schools are worried about meeting the new deadline because the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission has strict rules about having strong financial reserves and infrastructure, as well as existing affiliation fees. They want more conversation and help to make sure the policy keeps quality without hurting smaller schools.
