Parliament Passes National Defence University Bill, 2026 to Establish Ghana’s First National Defence University
Credit: CNR
Parliament has passed the National Defence University Bill, 2026, clearing the way for the establishment of Ghana’s first National Defence University (NDU) to consolidate, coordinate and enhance the tertiary education programmes of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The passage of the Bill marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen defence and security education, research, policy development and professional military training, while positioning Ghana as a regional hub for defence studies in Africa.
The National Defence University is expected to become a premier centre of excellence, offering diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral (PhD) programmes in defence, security and related disciplines. Its programmes will be open to military personnel as well as civilians involved in national security, defence, peacekeeping and strategic policy across Ghana and the wider African continent.
Decades-long vision realised
The legislation crowns years of efforts by the Ghana Armed Forces to establish a dedicated institution for advanced military education.
For more than two decades, 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 been accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to run postgraduate programmes.
However, these institutions have operated under mentorship and affiliation arrangements with already established universities in Ghana, limiting their ability to independently award academic qualifications.
Following a comprehensive assessment of the military’s educational institutions, academic programmes and infrastructure, GTEC recommended that the President, through the Ministry of Education, grant the proposed university a Presidential Charter and register it under Section 26 of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).
Once granted the Presidential Charter, the National Defence University will have the authority to independently award certificates, diplomas and degrees for programmes accredited by GTEC.
Subsequently, the President directed the Ministry of Defence and the Military High Command, in accordance with Section 29(1) of Act 1023, to take the necessary steps to establish the university.
Parliament describes Bill as landmark legislation
Presenting its report to Parliament, the Joint Committee responsible for considering the Bill described the legislation as a transformative step towards advancing higher education in defence and security.
“The Joint Committee, having carefully considered the National Defence University Bill, 2026, is of the view that this Bill is a crucial step towards advancing tertiary education in the field of defence and security in Ghana,” the report stated.
The Committee noted that the new law provides a comprehensive legal and administrative framework for integrating existing military educational institutions into a single world-class university capable of supporting national and regional security priorities.
“It provides a robust legal and administrative framework for consolidating existing military institutions into a world-class University. This will enhance national security and regional stability through research, capacity building and policy development,” the Committee said.
The report further emphasised that the proposed university has been carefully designed to preserve the discipline and unique traditions of military education while adhering to internationally recognised standards of academic governance and excellence.
“The Joint Committee is satisfied that the Bill strikes an appropriate balance between preserving the unique character and discipline of military institutions while upholding the highest standards of academic excellence and governance,” the report added.
Following debate and consideration of the Committee’s report, Parliament approved and passed the National Defence University Bill, 2026, setting the stage for the formal establishment of the institution.
The new university is expected to strengthen Ghana’s defence architecture by producing highly skilled military officers, security professionals, researchers and policymakers, while enhancing the country’s contribution to peacekeeping, regional security cooperation and strategic defence research across Africa.
