From mission to academia: The Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s influence on Higher Education Policy and Practice

From mission to academia: The Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s influence on Higher Education Policy and Practice

Frederick Mensah Bonsu , Peter Addai-Mensah , Nathan Samwini , Joseph Williams Acheampong & Kennedy Nyeseh Ofori

Issue: Vol. 7 No.4 2026 Article 2 pp.967 – 983
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026742| Published online 19th May 2026

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ABSTRACT

This study used an exploratory qualitative design to examine the rationale behind the establishment of tertiary institutions by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) and its contributions to higher education in Ghana. Using purposive sampling, data were gathered from 20 participants, including church leaders, education administrators, and policymakers. The findings revealed that while the PCG was not the first to introduce tertiary education in Ghana, it was among the earliest faith-based organisations to establish such institutions. The Church significantly expanded access through the creation of five Colleges of Education, the Akrofi-Christaller University College of Theology, Mission and Culture at Akropong-Akwapim, and the Presbyterian University, inaugurated in 2004. The study highlights the PCG’s transformative role in promoting equitable access, moral development, and intellectual growth. Its implications extend locally and internationally, offering valuable insights into how faith-based institutions can complement state efforts to advance inclusive tertiary education in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: Access, Infrastructure, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Tertiary Education

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Professor Bulelwa Makena is an Associate Professor of Language Education and a Deputy Head of the Department (HoD). She has served as a member of the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee and Ethics Committee at Walter Sisulu University, South Africa. As a self-motivated, achievement-oriented scholar, she is an author who has published extensively in scientific journals on DHET-accredited platforms. She currently offers modules within the Bachelor of Education Honours programme. Her areas of interest are language acquisition and educational management.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Bonsu, Frederick Mensah, Peter Addai-Mensah, Nathan Samwini, Joseph Williams Acheampong and Kennedy Nyeseh Ofori. “From mission to academia: The Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s influence on Higher Education Policy and Practice.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.4 (2026): 967 – 983. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026742