The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), through its Otumfuo Centre for Traditional Leadership, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Commission on Culture (NCC). The agreement, signed on 17 July 2026, seeks to strengthen collaboration in traditional leadership development, cultural preservation, research and academic advancement.
The partnership is expected to deepen collaborative research, policy engagement, capacity-building programmes and resource mobilisation, while supporting the institutional development of traditional leadership studies in Ghana.
It also aligns with UPSA’s commitment to integrating indigenous knowledge systems into higher education and positioning traditional leadership as an important pillar of national development.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Selase Asamoah, said the mandate of the National Commission on Culture closely aligns with the University’s mission and long-term strategic vision.
He expressed confidence that the collaboration would deliver lasting benefits to both institutions and contribute meaningfully to the preservation and promotion of Ghana’s cultural identity.
Prof. Asamoah described the Otumfuo Centre for Traditional Leadership as one of UPSA’s Centres of Excellence, acknowledging the invaluable contribution of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, whose seed funding supported the establishment of the Centre.
He noted that since its inception, the Centre has organised biannual capacity-building programmes for chiefs, queen mothers and other traditional authorities from across the country.
According to him, the programmes equip participants with practical knowledge in land administration, conflict resolution, gender sensitivity, family values, law and order, and the preservation and promotion of Ghana’s cultural heritage.
Prof. Asamoah further disclosed that the Centre is working to institutionalise traditional leadership education through the introduction of a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Traditional Leadership and Governance.
He said the University is currently engaging the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to secure accreditation for the programme, which, when approved, will offer students a recognised tertiary qualification in the field.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor also revealed that the Centre has established a partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which has expressed interest in supporting research into Ghana’s traditional values, indigenous governance systems and leadership structures.
Both UPSA and the NCC expressed optimism that the MoU would open new pathways for collaborative research, proposal development, cultural preservation and initiatives that promote effective traditional leadership and sustainable cultural development.
The partnership further strengthens UPSA’s position as a leading institution in traditional leadership studies and advances its ambition to become a foremost centre for traditional leadership education, research and scholarship in Ghana and across West and Central Africa.
