Ghana Nears Landmark Defence University: A New Era for Military Education

Ghana Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence, Interior, and Education is currently deliberating a crucial draft bill to establish a National Defence University (NDU), a move poised to reshape the nation's military education landscape. This proposed legislation, the National Defence University Bill, 2026, seeks to consolidate and elevate tertiary-level military education, enabling Ghana to independently build its defence capacity and award its own degrees. The Cabinet recently approved the bill, signaling a significant step towards a unified and self-reliant defence academic system. Currently, Ghana military academic institutions, like the Ghana Military Academy and the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, operate independently with separate accreditation. The NDU aims to bring these under one umbrella, standardizing academic programs, improving quality assurance, and strengthening oversight for all military and other security agency personnel, including the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Prisons Service. This move is designed to reduce reliance on foreign institutions for advanced training and position Ghana as a regional hub for security and defence education in West Africa. With the bill now before Ghana's Parliament, intense scrutiny and debate are expected before its potential passage. If enacted, this legislation will not only formalize the NDU operational capacity, which began in an acting role in early 2025, but also pave the way for substantial investment, with GH¢25 million already allocated from the 2026 GETFund for its initial development. The eventual establishment of the NDU could profoundly impact Ghana long-term security strategy and its role in regional stability.