Exploring the challenges of university council independence in Ghana’s higher education architecture

This study explores the challenges of university council independence in Ghana’s public universities, prompted by proposed legislative reforms increasing government oversight. The study is anchored on the principal-agent theory. Using an exploratory qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 key informants, including government, faculty members, non-faculty members, and student representatives from Ghana’s five oldest public universities. Thematic and document analysis revealed that government influence, through regulatory constraints, financial control, and appointment powers, restricts council autonomy. It is proposed that independent funding boards must be created to monitor the flow of funding, which will lessen dependency on government subsidies. Public-private partnership initiatives, which encourage industrial partnerships to finance infrastructure and research, should be promoted. To ensure fair representation and diminish political influence, public universities must set clear guidelines for council appointees. Additionally, efforts should be made to implement fee regulation mechanisms, such as limiting tuition hikes and expanding student scholarship opportunities, particularly under increased university autonomy. By highlighting the necessity of striking a balance between autonomy and accountability, these findings contribute to the global discourse on higher education governance.