Former University of Ghana Chancellor wants institution to produce a Nobel Prize winner

A former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof Ernest Aryeetey, has expressed his hope to witness a Nobel Prize laureate emerge from the institution, believing it would bring immeasurable benefits and enhance its prestige.

Speaking at the "Back to the Future: Conversations with UG Captains on Wear UG Day" event organized by the 75th Anniversary Planning Committee, Prof. Aryeetey emphasized the imperative to assess the fulfilment of the university's core mandate and set a trajectory of excellence in research and impact.

He underscored the potential for a future Nobel Prize winner to hail from the University of Ghana, stressing the importance of nurturing promising talents in their early academic years on campus, citing institutions like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford as examples where laureates often emerge from focused efforts and notable contributions.

"In many universities, most of the work that will bring fame to the university is done by one or two people leaving it at a place like Yale or Harvard or Stanford. These are the people that will win the Nobel Prize and everybody can see from the way they bring in the grants and the way they have their graduate students around them, you can see a Nobel Prize coming in 10 or 20 years," he explained.

“We are not there yet, but I would like to see a future in this university where a young man or young woman at WACCI, or at WACBIP, or at Noguchi or ISSER can think and dream about a Nobel Prize," Prof Aryeetey stated.

He further highlighted the transformative effect such an achievement could have, envisioning enhanced fame and resources for the university. He urged the university community to cultivate a culture of competitiveness and strive for global recognition, transcending local acclaim.

The event, part of the University of Ghana's 75th Anniversary celebrations, served as a platform for reflection on the institution's 75-year journey and strategizing for an even more prosperous future. Prof Ernest Aryeetey, who held the position of Vice-Chancellor from 2010 to 2016, played a pivotal role in the event. Distinguished panel members included Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Former Vice-Chancellor (1996 - 2002), Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia, Former Registrar (2013 - 2021), and Mrs. Carlotta Bannerman Amande, Former Student Leader (2003 - 2004).