Parliament has approved the National Defence University Bill, 2026, clearing the way for the creation of a National Defence University to unify the Ghana Armed Forces’ tertiary education institutions under a single academic body.

The university will become the country’s leading institution for defence and security studies, focusing on teaching, research, professional training and policy development. It is expected to offer diploma, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programmes to military personnel as well as civilians working in defence and security across Ghana and the wider African region.

The legislation marks the culmination of years of efforts by the Ghana Armed Forces to establish an independent institution dedicated to higher education in defence and security.

For over 20 years, institutions including the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, the National College of Defence Studies and the Military Health Institutions have delivered postgraduate programmes accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). However, they have relied on affiliation arrangements with established public universities to award qualifications.

After assessing the military’s academic institutions, programmes and infrastructure, GTEC recommended that the President, through the Ministry of Education, grant the proposed university a Presidential Charter and register it under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).

Once granted the charter, the university will have the authority to award its own certificates, diplomas and degrees for programmes accredited by GTEC.

The president subsequently instructed the Ministry of Defence and the Military High Command to take the necessary steps to establish the institution in line with the provisions of Act 1023.

Presenting its report to the House, the Joint Committee described the Bill as a major advancement for defence and security education in Ghana, saying it creates the legal basis to integrate existing military training institutions into a single, internationally competitive university.

The committee added that the move would strengthen national security, promote research and innovation, build professional capacity and support policy development, while contributing to regional peace and stability.