Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto has been formally sworn in as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), pledging to lead the University towards greater innovation.
Taking the oath of office, administered by the Chancellor, Sir Dr. Sam Esson Jonah, Prof. Aheto described his elevation as "not merely a personal honour but a solemn call to service."
He pledged to lead UCC in building "a transformative, inclusive and diverse academic environment that empowers excellence in research, teaching and learning and operates for wider impact on society".
The new Vice-Chancellor, who served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for 19 months and Acting Vice-Chancellor for the past 10 months, succeeds Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong.
He promised that the University would deepen partnerships with government, industry, alumni and development partners to expand research funding, sharpen teaching and learning, and lift UCC's global competitiveness.
Among the flagship announcements, Prof. Aheto disclosed that UCC has gone fully digital by commencing an AI-powered e-campus developed in partnership with the EdTech firm Astria Learning, which was projected to enrol about 10,000 students annually.
He said it would be fully scaled, with its first cohort beginning in the 2026/2027 academic year.
He also announced that the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has already accredited 36 new postgraduate programmes to run on the platform, including an MSc in Cybersecurity, an MBA in Sustainability and Governance Management, a Doctor of Business Administration in Financial Analysis and Management, and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, among others.
He assured stakeholders that the initiative would not replace UCC's existing sandwich and distance education programmes, which would continue to run alongside it.
He also announced that GTEC has approved the establishment of an Africa Ocean Institute, merging the university's Centre for Coastal Management, its Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, and a newly created Centre for Marine Affairs into a single continental hub for ocean research, marine governance and policy engagement.
In addition, he noted that the University has secured approval for an Africa Food Integrity Centre focused on food authenticity, safety and fraud prevention, while plans were advancing for a Centre for Ecological and Terrestrial Sustainability to drive biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Prof. Aheto outlined a five-pillar strategic agenda centred on financial sustainability, institutional governance, research excellence, digital transformation, improved teaching and learning, diversity and inclusion.
Among the flagship initiatives, he announced plans to establish a College of Engineering and Built Environment, modernise laboratories and lecture facilities, strengthen campus Wi-Fi, expand AI integration across the University and improve student accommodation through public-private partnerships.
On student welfare, Prof. Aheto said inadequate accommodation has been one of the most pressing challenges of his time as Acting Vice-Chancellor.
He announced that the Governing Council has approved a framework to expand student housing through public-private partnerships, with proposals from private investors under evaluation and government support being sought through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.
Reviewing his stewardship as Acting Vice-Chancellor, a role he assumed on September 24, 2025, Prof. Aheto reported that 92 staff appointments and 160 promotions were made, including 32 Professors, 49 Associate Professors, and 55 Senior Lecturers, as well as five inaugural lectures and the University's 58th Congregation, which graduated 17,546 students.
He therefore called for the support of staff, students, alumni and stakeholders to enable the University to achieve its vision.
The Chancellor of UCC, Sir Dr. Sam E. Jonah, reminded the newly installed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dennis Worlanyo Aheto, that leadership was not about comfort but responsibility.
He cautioned that the office would entail enormous expectations and difficult decisions to shape the University's future.
"I have not come here to hand you keys. I have come here to hand you a storm," Sir Sam declared, urging Prof. Aheto to embrace the challenges ahead with courage, innovation and unwavering commitment.
He challenged the Vice-Chancellor to build "the university that does not yet fully exist" by pursuing bold reforms, fostering innovation and positioning UCC as a leading institution capable of responding to the changing demands of higher education and national development.
Sir Dr. Sam Jonah further encouraged Prof. Aheto to leave a lasting legacy by championing practical, industry-driven education, strengthening research and ensuring that UCC continued to produce graduates equipped with both academic excellence and real-world skills.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC
