Sir Sam Jonah has pledged his full support to Professor Aheto, the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC). Jonah urged Professor Aheto to pursue bold reforms and promised to stand by him against any resistance. This declaration came during the Vice-Chancellor's installation ceremony on August 1, 2026.
Jonah emphasized that Professor Aheto's appointment was not to maintain the existing system. Instead, it was to transform the institution for a rapidly changing world. He highlighted the significant impact of artificial intelligence on global dynamics. Jonah warned that universities focusing only on delivering information risk becoming obsolete. He stated that machines now perform this task better, faster, and cheaper.
This call for reform aligns with broader discussions about Ghana's educational system. There is a growing need to align academic output with industry demands. Many Ghanaian graduates struggle to find employment due to a lack of practical skills. Jonah's message underscores the urgency for educational institutions to adapt to modern economic realities. The country's economic growth depends on a skilled workforce.
“You will be criticised. Reformers always are. When they come for you, send them to me,” Sir Sam Jonah stated. He added, “I have spent 50 years being told what could not be done, usually by people standing on ground I later mined.” This statement reflects his personal experience with innovation and overcoming opposition.
The implications of this challenge are significant for UCC and other Ghanaian universities. They must re-evaluate their curricula and teaching methods. A shift towards vocational education could produce graduates better equipped for the job market. This move could also boost Ghana's productivity and economic competitiveness. Decision-makers in education and industry will closely watch UCC's response to this call for transformation.
Sir Sam Jonah challenged UCC to establish Africa’s first degree-awarding faculty dedicated to vocational education. This faculty would ensure academic qualifications are matched with practical competence. He also called for stronger partnerships with industry. He proposed project-based learning, AI innovation clubs, and mentorship from Ghanaian experts abroad.
He directly addressed Professor Aheto, urging him to protect academic standards. At the same time, he encouraged breaking down barriers between theory and practice. “Guard the standards of this University with your life; a devalued degree helps no one,” Jonah advised. He also said, “Break the wall between the academy and the workshop; let no programme survive that cannot answer the question, ‘What can your graduate do?’”
Jonah argued that lecturers with practical expertise should receive the same respect as traditional academics. He suggested, “Put a lecturer of practice — a master welder, a master nurse, a master farmer — beside every professor of theory, and pay them both with honour.” This approach aims to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application.
He lamented that too many African graduates possess theoretical knowledge but lack practical competence. “A nation of people who know, but cannot do, will remain a poor nation — beautifully certificated, and poor,” he warned. This highlights a critical issue affecting economic development across the continent.
Sir Sam Jonah concluded by urging the university community to seize this defining moment. “The old model of the university is passing. A new one is waiting to be built. Someone will build it. Let it be built here, by us.” He ended with a final charge to Professor Aheto: “The storm is yours now. So is the honour. Lead us.”