Dr. Clement Adamba, Director, Legon Centre for Education Research and Policy (LECERP)
The College of Education, University of Ghana, is ushering in a new era of education research and policy reform with the establishment of the Legon Centre for Education Research and Policy (LCERP), a flagship initiative of the College. Dr. Clement Adamba, a distinguished Senior Research Fellow in the School of Education and Leadership, has been appointed as the first Director of the Legon Centre for Education Research and Policy (LECERP). This appointment reflects the College's renewed focus on research-driven education reform.
In an exclusive interview with the Public Affairs Unit, Dr. Adamba shared key insights about the Centre's establishment, mission, and future direction. He credited the vision to the founding Provost of the College of Education, Rt. Rev. Prof. Cephas Narh Omenyo, who initially conceived the idea of positioning the College at the forefront of educational research. As Prof. Omenyo once remarked, "If the College of Education is to rise rapidly and be recognised at par with its sister colleges, research must be made an integral part of the affairs of the College."
Dr. Adamba explained how this vision was nurtured by successive Provosts, including the current Provost, Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe. "Professor Codjoe, an accomplished researcher himself, placed emphasis on the need for research to be prioritised and given a central place in the College of Education," Dr. Adamba said. After extensive consultations within the College, Prof. Codjoe established the Professor Solomon Ofori Committee to assess the feasibility of establishing the Centre. By early 2023, the proposal, spearheaded by a committee led by Professor George Owusu, came to fruition, resulting in the formal establishment of LECERP.
According to Dr. Adamba, the Centre’s mission is to foster collaborative research and advocacy to promote excellence in education. LECERP will serve as a platform for dialogue between academics, policymakers, practitioners, and communities, working together to tackle the most pressing challenges facing education in Ghana.
A key objective of LECERP is to ensure its research has a direct and meaningful impact on national education policy. To achieve this, Dr. Adamba outlined a three-pronged strategy: conducting policy-relevant research in partnership with government and development partners, publishing policy briefs that distill complex research into clear, actionable insights, and advocating for policy changes through media engagement, public forums, conferences, and other stakeholder interactions.
"Research is not just an academic exercise; it is a tool to drive change," Dr. Adamba stressed, highlighting the importance of translating research findings into policies that shape a responsive, inclusive education system capable of preparing citizens for future challenges.
LECERP is set to publish its first flagship report, the "State of Education in Ghana Report," in early 2025. It has also launched a self-initiated study, “Assessing the Nature and Scope of Financing Opportunities for Higher Education in Ghana”, which will examine existing financial support schemes, such as scholarships and bursaries, and explore ways to expand access to higher education.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Adamba reiterated that LECERP is committed to shaping national education policy in Ghana by addressing the critical needs of the education sector. Through its policy-relevant research, the Centre aims to create actionable solutions to enhance education in Ghana.