The University of Ghana (UG), Legon, has directed all students who obtained a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) below 1.00 at the end of the 2024/2025 academic year to withdraw from the institution.
The directive, contained in a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by the Director of Academic Affairs, Mrs. Lydia Anowa Nyarko-Danquah, underscores the university’s commitment to academic excellence, discipline, and integrity.
According to the circular, referenced AA.0IE/10-25, all affected students must confirm their withdrawal through their official UG email accounts by November 30, 2025. The directive is grounded in Section 9.26 of the University’s Regulations for Junior Members (2017), which stipulates that any student who fails to meet progression requirements “shall be asked by the Registrar to withdraw from the University.” The same section offers no provision for probation for students falling below the required academic threshold.
For decades, the University of Ghana has upheld its reputation as the nation’s premier institution of higher learning. This latest decision reinforces its long-standing commitment to maintaining the highest academic standards. While the regulation itself is not new, its strict enforcement in 2025 sends a clear message: academic mediocrity will not be entertained. The policy ensures that those who remain enrolled are students who consistently demonstrate diligence and capacity.
A similar action was taken in October 2023, when students in Levels 200 and 300 who failed to maintain a CGPA of 1.00 were asked to withdraw. Despite initial backlash, the university defended its stance, emphasizing that protecting the integrity of its degrees was non-negotiable. Then, affected students were given the opportunity to reapply, seek academic counselling, and in some cases, receive fee refunds. The 2025 enforcement builds on that precedent, applying the rule uniformly across all levels and programmes.
For many, the directive serves as a wake-up call — a reminder that university education is not an entitlement but a privilege earned through effort and consistency. Skipping lectures, neglecting assignments, or coasting through tutorials now carries real consequences. With the cumulative GPA system, every academic misstep adds up, and recovery becomes increasingly difficult.
Beyond enforcing discipline, the decision holds a moral undertone. It sends a strong message that success in academia is built on discipline, resilience, and commitment, not luck or chance. Every ignored reading, every missed assessment, and every wasted semester contributes to a student’s academic decline — a reality that cannot be overlooked.
However, the enforcement also invites reflection on the human side of the policy. Some students fail not from complacency, but due to financial challenges, mental health issues, or other personal hardships. While the university’s stance on quality is commendable, it remains important to balance firmness with compassion, ensuring that genuine cases of difficulty are given fair avenues for redress or reapplication.
As the November 30 deadline draws closer, affected students are urged to check their academic records through the MISWeb portal and official email channels for detailed instructions. The Academic Affairs Directorate remains the primary contact for inquiries on withdrawal confirmation, appeals, and possible refunds.
For the wider student community, this decision should serve as a moment of introspection and renewal — a reminder that sustained effort, discipline, and focus are the true currencies of success.
Ultimately, the University of Ghana’s latest action is not one of punishment but a defense of academic quality and institutional credibility. It is a firm declaration that in the pursuit of excellence, there is no room for complacency.
Good 😊