The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA)
The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) is a progressive public institution that provides both academic and professional higher education in Ghana. With over fifty (50) years of experience, UPSA has achieved the reputation as the oldest Ghanaian human resource development institution in professional Accountancy and Management with many of its products in key leadership positions in Ghana and abroad.
Formerly the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) was birthed out of a dream of a young man in 1965 as a private business professional institution. By dint of hard work, the founder, Nana J.K. Opoku Ampomah successfully carved a niche for the Institute as the only Tertiary Educational institution to train professional Accountants and Administrators in the whole of West Africa at the time. The institution has since undergone immense growth, development and restructuring over the years.
With great fortitude and hard work, a Presidential Charter was granted to the Institute in September 2008 making it a fully-fledged university capable of awarding its own Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees for its accredited programmes. In 2012, the University of Professional Studies Act 2012, Act 850 was passed to change the name of the Institution from Institute of Professional Studies to the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
Repositioned as a fully-fledged public university with a unique mandate to provide both Academic and Professional education, the University, which has grown from an initial enrolment of five students in 1965, currently boasts of more than 21,000 students and is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programmes (ACBSP) in USA.
UPSA’s unique profile is underpinned by the combination of scholarship, professionalism, and entrepreneurship. With solid systems and strong values in place, the university has diverse offerings of Doctoral, Postgraduate, Bachelors and Diploma as well as Professional programmes and is poised towards internationalisation through strategic alliances and international collaboration.
ADVISORY COUNCIL NOMINEE
Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey
Vice-Chancellor
University of Professional Studies, AccraProfessor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey joined the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) sixteen
(16) years ago as a Lecturer in the Department of Marketing. He was among the first batch of lecturers employed to augment the staff strength of the Faculty when the Degree programme was introduced.
A product of Aquinas Secondary School (1981 to 1986) and Prempeh College (1986-1988), Professor Amartey has extensive experience in both industry and academia.
Prof. Amartey obtained his undergraduate degree in Economics (major) from the University of Ghana in 1992. He holds two (2) Masters Degrees:
- Master of Business Administration (Marketing Option); and
- Master of Philosophy in Marketing both from the University of Ghana Business School
He further holds a Doctor of Business Administration from the Swiss Management Center in Switzerland. He is a qualified Professional Marketer from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK. And, he is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana
Prof. Amartey has occupied several positions at UPSA including Head of the CIM Unit, Head of the Marketing Department, Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University.
On the 25th of August, 2016, the Governing Council of the University appointed him Vice-Chancellor, making him the second Vice-Chancellor of the University. He officially took office on 1st January 2017 and in November 2018, he was appointed to the rank of Full Professor. In December 2020, the Governing Council appointed him for a second, four-year term.
Under his tenure, the University has grown in leaps and bounds. A few achievements include:
- In 2017, the total student body count was about 11,500. Today, the University boasts of more than 20,000 students;
- In 2017, UPSA had a total of 20 academic That number has increased to 33, representing a more than 50% increase. The new programmes include two doctoral programmes in Marketing and Accounting. Others are expected soon.
- During Prof. Amartey’s first term, the UPSA infrastructure projects included the building and commissioning of a new 3,500 capacity auditorium, a Student Centre, an Astroturf, and three (3) near- completion construction projects.
- In 2022, the University took possession of a 1584-bed student hostel. The University plans on opening another hostel soon.
Prof. Amartey is a member of several committees and boards, including the GETFund Board. He is the immediate past Chairman of Vice-Chancellors Ghana. Prof. Amartey is the recipient of several distinguished awards including the following:
- Most Respected CEO in the Education sector in 2019 and 2020 by the Ghana Industry CEO Awards;
- CEO of the Year (Public Sector) at the Ghana Business Awards;
- West African Vice-Chancellor Visionary Leadership Award by the National Student Serve Association (NSSA) AFRICA, a global student body; and
- Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) Marketing Man of the Year in 2018
- He was named in the prestigious Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2016 for the paper he co-authored titled “Consumers’ attitude towards social media advertising and their behavioral response: the moderating role of corporate reputation” published in Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing 2015; and
- CEO of the Year (Tertiary) at the Ghana CEO He is also a Resident Pastor at Revival Outreach Church.
He is happily married with three wonderful children.
