Since Ghana gained independence in 1957, only the University of Ghana has produced presidents as a local university with global recognition.
The fact that other universities, such as Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), have not produced a head of state has become a point of pride for students and alumni of UG, who often take to social media to boast about KNUST and its graduates.
To fact-check this and provide data and historical context, Ghana Education News examined the records of universities attended by all Heads of State of Ghana since independence.
The facts revealed some interesting insights.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is the only political party in the history of Ghana that has produced both a professor as president (Prof. Atta Mills) and a professor as vice president (Prof. Nana Opoku Agyemang, Ghana’s incoming first-ever female vice president from January 7, 2025).
All presidents of Ghana, from Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to the present, have studied outside the country at top globally recognised universities.
All Ghanaian presidents, except President John Mahama, have studied in the United Kingdom before becoming head of state in Ghana. President Mahama studied at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow, Russia.
Only the University of Ghana, as a local university, has produced presidents for the country, and this is a fact.
READ: What To Do After You Have Gained Admission Into A University
The University of Ghana has produced three presidents for Ghana since 1957—check them here.
| President | Graduation Year | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| John Evans Atta Mills | 1967 | Bachelor of Laws (LLB) |
| Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo | 1967 | Bachelor of Science in Economics |
| John Dramani Mahama | 1981 | Bachelor of Arts in History |
John Evans Atta Mills graduated from the University of Ghana in 1967 with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also graduated in 1967, earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
John Dramani Mahama completed his studies at the University of Ghana in 1981, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in History.
READ: List Of African Countries And When They Gained Independence
All Ghana’s presidents and the universities they attended
| President | University | Graduation Year |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Kwame Nkrumah | Lincoln University, USA | 1939 |
| University of Pennsylvania, USA | 1942 | |
| University College London, UK | 1945 | |
| London School of Economics, UK | 1945 | |
| University of London, UK (External Degree) | 1947 | |
| Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia | University College, Oxford (now University of Oxford), UK | 1941 |
| University of Oxford, UK (DPhil) | 1954 | |
| Dr. Hilla Limann | London School of Economics, UK | 1960 |
| University of London, UK (PhD) | 1965 | |
| Jerry John Rawlings | Ghana Military Academy | 1969 |
| John Agyekum Kufuor | University of Oxford, UK | 1964 |
| John Evans Atta Mills | University of Ghana, Legon | 1967 |
| London School of Economics, UK | 1968 | |
| University of London, UK (PhD) | 1971 | |
| John Dramani Mahama | University of Ghana, Legon | 1981 |
| Institute of Social Sciences, Moscow, Russia | 1988 | |
| Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo | University of Ghana, Legon | 1967 |
| Inns of Court School of Law (Middle Temple), UK | 1971 |
Check out more history about Ghana; read the FULL STORY on How Ghana Gained Independence In 1957.