Wesley College of Education (WESCO) in Kumasi has taken a significant leap toward modernizing Ghana’s teacher training system by placing artificial intelligence (AI) at the heart of its academic transformation agenda. The college graduated 450 Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) students at its 16th Congregation Ceremony, positioning itself as a leader in the use of AI to enhance teaching and learning outcomes in basic schools across the country.
Held on the college campus, the ceremony attracted dignitaries from academia, government agencies, development partners, alumni, and families of the graduating class. The event, which was held under the theme “Transforming Teacher Education with AI: Advancing the WESCO Agenda for Excellence,” marked a turning point in how teacher education institutions in Ghana are adapting to the demands of a digital era.
In his keynote address, Associate Professor Kofi Sarpong Adu-Manu of the University of Ghana challenged the graduates to embrace technology with confidence, stressing that it is not AI that will change the country, but the teachers themselves. He underscored the importance of ethical responsibility and digital literacy, urging the new educators to adopt AI tools as a means of enhancing inclusive learning in classrooms.
Professor Adu-Manu praised WESCO’s groundbreaking collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), through which the college has developed an AI-enabled mentoring model. This initiative has successfully trained 100 student-teachers and 25 mentors to create inclusive Open Educational Resources (OERs) using artificial intelligence tools. According to him, WESCO’s efforts position the institution at the forefront of AI-powered teacher training in Ghana and across West Africa.
The Principal of WESCO, Dr. Kennedy Ameyaw Baah, used the occasion to reaffirm the college’s vision of becoming a world-class institution for teacher education. He disclosed that the number of faculty members with doctoral degrees had doubled within a year, from six to twelve, with 30 more lecturers currently pursuing their PhDs. He attributed this academic growth to the college’s strategic focus on research, innovation, and professional development.
Dr. Baah announced that the college had secured a grant of 19,000 Canadian dollars under COL’s STEM Project to support the integration of AI into its academic programs. He noted that WESCO’s inclusive education policy remains a top priority, with 23 visually impaired students receiving academic and welfare support to ensure equal access to learning opportunities.
The Principal also reported ongoing infrastructural developments on campus. These include the construction of a 2,000-seat auditorium, a 300-bed student hostel funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), and a staff bungalow supported by Ghana Gas. While commending stakeholders for their contributions, Dr. Baah appealed for further assistance in completing a new lecture complex and providing reliable transportation for teacher trainees, many of whom face mobility challenges.
The 2025 graduating class recorded exceptional academic results. Of the 450 students who graduated, 256 earned First Class honours, 183 secured Second Class Upper Division, and 11 achieved Second Class Lower Division. The performance was hailed as a reflection of both student dedication and faculty commitment to academic excellence.
Describing the event as “The WESCO Moment,” Professor Adu-Manu said the graduation represented more than a milestone—it was the dawn of a new era in teacher preparation. He said the graduates were not just leaving with certificates, but with the capacity and character to lead classrooms in an age defined by technology, equity, and innovation.
Wesley College’s 16th Congregation therefore marked a dual celebration—of academic achievement and of a bold, future-facing vision for teacher education in Ghana. As the newly trained educators leave the college to begin their professional journeys, they carry not only the hopes of the institution but the responsibility to drive educational transformation through the effective use of artificial intelligence.
