Parliament has passed the Education Regulatory Bodies (Amendment) Bill, 2026, removing the mandatory six-year timeline for private universities to obtain a Presidential Charter and making the acquisition of a charter optional.
Speaking during the second reading of the bill, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu explained that the previous law, the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020 (Act 1023), had created practical and financial challenges for private institutions. Under the earlier law, private universities were required to secure a charter within six years—an obligation many struggled to meet.
“Historically, under the National Accreditation Board, a charter has never been compulsory. It has always been optional,” Mr Iddrisu told Parliament, noting that high fees payable to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) placed significant pressure on private institutions.
He warned that enforcing the previous requirement could have forced some universities to shut down, potentially affecting thousands of students enrolled in private tertiary institutions across the country.
“Government recognises the contribution of private tertiary institutions, numbering over 79, which have significantly expanded access to higher education and maintained quality standards nationwide,” he said.
Under the amendment, private universities can now apply for a charter only when they believe they have met the requirements to operate independently and award their own degrees and diplomas. “So if an institution, subject to mentoring, feels it has satisfied the criteria, it may request to be chartered,” the minister explained.
Mr Iddrisu assured Parliament that regulatory oversight and quality assurance would remain in place, with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission continuing to monitor institutional accreditation, programme approval, and academic audits.
The Parliamentary Education Committee supported the amendment, highlighting that the previous mandate risked disrupting the education of thousands of Ghanaian students if some private universities were forced to close.
The reform also allows private universities to participate more actively in programme approval processes, ensuring that new courses align with national education objectives.
Government says the amendment is part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s tertiary education sector while recognising private universities as vital partners in expanding access to higher education.