University of Ghana Ranked Best in Ghana and West Africa, 8th in Sub-Saharan Africa – QS 2026.
The University of Ghana (UG) has been ranked the number one university in Ghana and West Africa and 8th best in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Inaugural QS World University Rankings: Sub-Saharan Africa 2026.
UG achieved an impressive overall score of 74.8, reflecting strong performance across key indicators used in the assessment. The University recorded:
- 90.6 in Academic Reputation
- 88.3 in International Research Network
- 86.6 in Sustainability
- 79.2 in Web Impact
- 65.6 in Employer Reputation
- 52.1 in Citations per Paper
- 50.3 in Staff with PhD
- 48.1 in Papers per Faculty
- 10 in Faculty–Student Ratio
The ranking was officially announced at the launch event held at the Association of African Universities in Accra, where Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, accompanied by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Development), received a framed certificate in recognition of the University’s achievement.
VC Reacts: “A Collective Success”
Reacting to the news, Prof. Amfo congratulated faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners, describing the ranking as a collective success worthy of celebration. She noted that being ranked 8th in Sub-Saharan Africa marks a significant milestone and affirms UG’s growing regional and global influence.
While celebrating the achievement, the Vice-Chancellor emphasised the need for continuous improvement. She highlighted the student–faculty ratio as an area requiring urgent attention and called for increased investment and financial clearance from government to recruit additional faculty members. According to her, expanding academic staffing will reduce workload pressures, enhance research productivity, and further strengthen the University’s global competitiveness.
Prof. Amfo encouraged the entire University community to remain united and committed to excellence, stressing that with sustained effort and the right resources, UG can aim for the top position in future rankings.
About the Ranking
A total of 69 institutions from 21 African locations were assessed in this inaugural Sub-Saharan Africa ranking. The methodology was tailored to reflect regional higher education strengths and challenges, focusing on areas such as:
- Research output
- Academic and employer reputation
- Employability
- Sustainability
- Global engagement
QS remains a globally recognised authority in comparative institutional performance assessment, providing data-driven insights that matter to students, academics, and university partners worldwide.
This latest recognition reinforces the University of Ghana’s reputation as a leading institution of higher learning on the continent and a hub for research, innovation, and academic excellence.