President Mahama Underscores ACE Program’s Pivotal Role In Addressing Africa’s Skills Gap And Sustainable Development
His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has praised the African Centres of Excellence (ACE) Program for its role in fostering innovation, enhancing institutional capacities, and nurturing world-class expertise across the continent.
Speaking at the tenth anniversary of the program, President Mahama emphasized the significance of regional collaboration in unlocking Africa’s potential and building a resilient workforce to drive sustainable development.
“The future of higher education in Africa—and globally—lies not in working in isolation, but in uniting efforts to unlock talent, transfer knowledge, and foster a resilient workforce that can propel development across Africa.
“The ACE Program has become a model of excellence, addressing the growing demand for research-led solutions, skilled professionals, and innovations that are relevant to Africa’s unique challenges,” President Mahama stated.
Launched in 2014, the ACE Program is a flagship World Bank-funded initiative aimed at transforming higher education across Africa. With an investment of $657 million from the World Bank and $72 million in co-financing from the French Development Agency (AFD), the program has been instrumental in reshaping Africa’s education and research landscape.
The program has supported over 80 ACEs across more than 50 universities in 20 African countries, and has made a measurable impact on both the educational sector and industry collaboration.
As of 2025, the ACE Program has enrolled more than 90,000 students, including 7,650 PhD candidates and 30,200 master’s degree students, with a focus on promoting gender inclusion, with 32% of participants being women.
These institutions have not only raised academic standards but have also built modern facilities equipped with cutting-edge technologies, meeting global benchmarks in education. The program has produced over 10,350 peer-reviewed publications, developing solutions tailored to Africa’s unique challenges in sectors such as agriculture, ICT, energy, health, and urban development.
In his remarks, President Mahama highlighted the importance of aligning academic efforts with national and regional development goals, ensuring that the ACE Program continues to evolve and maintain its relevance.
“The demand for research-driven innovation continues to grow, and by fostering partnerships that align academic work with Africa’s development goals, we can ensure that the ACE Program remains vibrant and impactful well into the future,” the President noted.
The ACE Program’s success is also attributed to its emphasis on regional specialization, leveraging economies of scale, and facilitating cross-border collaborations among universities. This approach has enabled students from various countries to engage in research on key regional issues, fostering innovation and developing practical solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges.
Looking ahead, the ACE Program is positioned to remain a cornerstone in Africa’s higher education sector, continuing to train the next generation of leaders and professionals equipped to tackle the continent’s complex and evolving needs.
This milestone event, co-organized by the Government of Ghana, the Association of African Universities (AAU), and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), reflects the critical role of higher education in driving Africa’s socio-economic growth and transformation. As the program celebrates a decade of achievements, stakeholders remain committed to further strengthening the continent’s educational ecosystem and enhancing the impact of the ACEs on both the regional and global stage.
