Parliament has approved the establishment of a National Defence University to bring together the various tertiary education and training institutions of the Ghana Armed Forces under a single academic framework.
The National Defence University Bill, 2026, which was passed on Friday, is expected to create a dedicated institution focused on defence and security education, research, professional development and policy formulation.
The university will offer diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes to military personnel as well as civilians involved in national security and defence-related fields.
The passage of the Bill followed the adoption of a report by Parliament’s Joint Committee, which described the legislation as an important step towards strengthening Ghana’s defence and security education system.
According to the Committee, the legislation will provide the legal and administrative foundation for transforming existing military educational institutions into a unified, world-class university.
The Committee said the institution would contribute to national security and regional stability through advanced research, capacity building and policy development.
It also noted that the framework had been designed to preserve the distinctive discipline and character of military institutions while ensuring that the university meets recognised standards of academic excellence and governance.
End to decades-long affiliation arrangement
For more than 20 years, major educational institutions of the Ghana Armed Forces—including the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, the National College of Defence Studies and military health institutions—have operated under academic mentorship arrangements with civilian universities.
Although several of these institutions have been accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to run postgraduate programmes, they have not had the independent authority to award degrees.
A review conducted by GTEC of the military’s academic institutions, programmes and facilities subsequently led to a recommendation for the establishment of a standalone university.
GTEC recommended that the proposed institution be granted a Presidential Charter and registered under Section 26 of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).
The Charter would enable the university to independently award certificates, diplomas and degrees for programmes accredited by GTEC.
Presidential directive
Following the recommendation, President John Dramani Mahama directed the Ministry of Defence and the Military High Command to establish the university in accordance with Section 29(1) of Act 1023.
With Parliament having now approved the enabling legislation, the National Defence University Bill, 2026, is awaiting presidential assent before it becomes law.
