“It seems the women are taking over": Stereotyping around women in top-level leadership positions in Ghana's universities

Figures & data

TABLE 1: List of public universities* in Ghana and number of female Vice-Chancellors

Name of university	Date established	No. of Principals/ Vice-Chancellors	No. of female Vice-Chancellors	No. of principal officers^1	No. of female principal officers
University of Ghana (UG)	1948	13	1	6	4
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)	1951	14	1	4	1
University of Cape Coast (UCC)	1962	16	1	4	1
CK Tedam University for Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UYAS)	2020	1	-	5	-
University of Education, Winneba (UEW)	1992	7	-	5	-
Simon Diedong Dombo University for Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS)	2019	1	-	5	-
Akenten Appiah Menkah University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED)	2020	1	-	5	1
University for Development Studies (UDS)	1992	4	-	5	-
University of Professional Studies (UPS)	1965			4	-
University of Mines and Technology (UMAT)	2001	5	-	4	-
University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS)	2011	3	1	3	2
University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR)	2012	5	-	3	1
University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD)	2020	1	-	5	1
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)	2004	5	-	4	1
Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU)	2005	1	-	5	-

Source: Compiled by authors.

*Excluding Technical universities.

¹The principal officers include the Chancellor, Chair of the University Council, Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, and Director of Finance. Note that not all the universities have all portfolios filled.

Table 2: Lists of Principals and Vice-Chancellors at selected universities, 1948–2023

University of Ghana	Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology	University of Cape Coast
David Mowbray Balme (1948–1957)	Dr JP Andrews (1952–1954)	Dr CA Ackah (1962–-1964)
Raymond Henry Stoughton (1957–1962)	Dr WE Duncanson (1954– 1960)	Dr NG Bakhoom (1964–1966)
Conor Cruise O'Brien (1962–1965)	Dr RP Baffour (1960–1967)	Dr CA Ackah (1966–1968)
Alexander Adum Kwapong (1966–1975)	Dr E Evans-Anfom (1967–1973)	Prof. KA Nyarko, Acting (1968–1969)
Daniel Adzei Bekoe (1976–1983)	Prof. E Bamfo-Kwakye (1974–1983)	Prof. EA Boateng (1969–1972)
Akilagpa Sawyerr (1985–1992)	Prof. FO Kwami (1984–1992)	Prof. Yanney-Ewusie (1973–1978)
George Benneh (1992–1996)	Prof. EH Amonoo Neizer (1992–1997)	Prof. SK Odamtten, Acting Vice-Chancellor (1978–1980)
Ivan Addae-Mensah (1996–2002)	Prof. AK Tuah (1997–1999)	Prof. KB Dickson (1980–1988)
Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere (2002–2006)	Prof. JSK Ayim (1999–2002)	Prof. KN Eyeson, Acting Vice-Chancellor (1988– 1989)
Clifford Nii-Boi Tagoe (2006–2010)	Prof. KA Andam (2002–2006)	Prof. KB Dickson (1989–1990)
Ernest Aryeetey (2010–2016)	Prof. KK Adarkwa (2006–2010)	Rev. Prof. SK Ajepong (1991–2001)
Ebenezer Oduro Owusu (2016– 2021)	Prof. WO Ellis (2010–2016)	Emmanuel Addow-Obeng (2001–2008)
Nana Aba Appiah-Amfo (2021–present)	Prof. K Obiri-Danso (2016–2020)	Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang (2008–2012)
	Prof. (Mrs) RA Dickson (2020–present)	DD Kuupole (2012–2016)
		Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah (2016–2022)
		Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong (2022–present)

Source: Compiled by authors.

Figure 1: Universities’ administrative organogram.

Source: Authors’ compilation.

TABLE 3: Summary of respondent characteristics

Pseudonym	Gender	Rank	Present or past leadership position held	University of employment
Akosua	Female	Professor	None	UG
Adwoa	Female	Professor	Former Provost	KNUST
Abena	Female	Lecturer	Former Head of an Institute	UCC
Kwasi	Male	Associate Professor	Former Head of Department	KNUST
Kwadwo	Male	Professor	Provost	UCC
Yaw	Male	Senior Lecturer	None	UG
Akua	Female	Associate Professor	Head of Department	KNUST
Afia	Female	Lecturer	None	UG
Ama	Female	Associate Professor	Former Dean	KNUST

• Note that one respondent, Prof. Florence Dolphyne, was not kept anonymous due to the relevance of her status as the first female Pro Vice-Chancellor. Her consent was sought before her name was used.

Table 4: University of Ghana teaching staff statistics by gender and rank

2011/2012
Rank of academic staff	Male (No. and %)	Female (No. and %)	Total (No. and %)
Professor	66 (6.1%)	9 (0.8%)	75 (6.9%)
Associate Professor	108 (10%)	34 (3.1%)	142 (13.1)
Senior Lecturer	232 (21.4%)	56 (5.2%)	288 (26.6%)
Lecturer	336 (31%)	119 (11%)	455 (42%)
Assistant Lecturer	77 (7.1%)	47 (4.3%)	124 (11.4%)
Total	819 (75.6%)	265 (24.2%)	1084 (100%)
Source: https://www.ug.edu.gh/irpo/sites/irpo/files/Staff%202012.pdf
2021/2022
Rank of academic staff	Male (No. and %)	Female (No. and %)	Total (No. and %)
Professor	87 (6%)	13 (0.9%)	100 (6.9%)
Associate Professor	161 (11.1%)	41 (2.8%)	202 (13.9%)
Senior Lecturer	417 (28.8%)	167 (11.5%)	584 (40.3%)
Lecturer	258 (17.8%)	142 (9.8%)	44 (27.6%)
Assistant Lecturer	96 (6.6%)	67 (4.6%)	163 (11.25%)
Total	1019 (70.3%)	430 (29.7%)	1449 (100%)
Source: https://www.ug.edu.gh/irpo/sites/irpo/files/Staff.pdf