Parliament has officially approved the Education Regulatory Bodies (Amendment) Bill, 2026, a move that fundamentally shifts the legal requirements for private universities by making the acquisition of a presidential charter optional.
This legislative change also effectively abolishes the rigid six-year timeline that previously forced private institutions to secure chartered status within a specific window or face potential regulatory consequences.
The government argued that the former mandate imposed significant practical and financial burdens on private institutions.
Many schools found it increasingly difficult to navigate the chartering process due to the substantial fees required by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), often leading to a struggle to meet the strict six-year deadline.
By removing these constraints, the new amendment seeks to alleviate the fiscal pressure on the private education sector.
During the second reading of the bill on Friday, March 13, 2026, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu advocated for the amendment on the floor of Parliament.
He emphasised that the shift to an optional charter provides private tertiary institutions with essential operational flexibility.
He reassured the House that while the path to chartering is no longer compulsory, the state will continue to exercise robust regulatory oversight to ensure educational standards remain uncompromised.
