The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) officially launched its 65th anniversary celebrations on March 26 at its Greenhill campus in Accra, unveiling a new alumni card, a commemorative logo, and details of a continental expansion strategy that will see the institution open a governance school in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rector Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu used the occasion to signal that the institution was stepping boldly into a future defined by digital transformation and expansion across Francophone Africa. The Kinshasa Governance School, announced in a separate institutional statement on March 19, forms the centrepiece of GIMPA’s push to embed its leadership training model deeper into the continent.
Professor Bonsu traced the origins of the institution to the early post-independence period, noting that 65 years ago the Government of Ghana and the United Nations decided to establish a school that would support the Ghanaian takeover of the public service. From that singular mandate, GIMPA has grown into a full public university with over 6,000 enrolled students and programmes spanning governance, law, business, technology and social sciences. The Rector also confirmed approval for the establishment of a new School of Creative Arts Leadership and Enterprise, expected to open in September 2026, aimed at bridging critical skills gaps in Ghana’s creative sector.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Presidential Advisor on the Economy Seth Terkper described GIMPA as a beacon of multi-disciplinary excellence and urged the institute to align more closely with the government’s digital agenda. He cited the 2026 budget allocation of GH¢33.3 billion to education and pressed for deeper collaboration between GIMPA and the public service, arguing that such a partnership would help pioneer digital transformation and ensure graduates are equipped for a technology-led economy.
Guest of Honour and Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ahmed Ibrahim described the anniversary as not merely a celebration of longevity but a reflection of a national institution that has shaped Ghana’s public administration and leadership landscape. Tracing GIMPA’s roots to the vision of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, he stressed that competent and ethical leadership within institutions remained the decisive factor in national development. “Without competent and ethical leadership, these efforts will not yield the results that we seek,” he said.
Dean of the GIMPA Law School and Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Budu announced that the celebrations would run throughout the year with conferences, workshops, and policy dialogues on governance, sustainability, and digital transformation, as well as community outreach projects led by students and alumni. The main anniversary event is scheduled for June 1, 2026, exactly 65 years after the institute’s establishment.
The launch ceremony included the cutting of an anniversary cake alongside the unveiling of the official anniversary logo and the introduction of the GIMPA Alumni Prestige Card, an initiative designed to deepen engagement with the institution’s global alumni network.
