University of Ghana (UG), Legon, has announced the dismissal of all students who acquired a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) below 1.0 at the end of the 2024/2025 academic year.

The dismissal, which was announced in an official statement dated 2nd October and signed by Mrs Lydia Anowa Nyarko-Danquah, Director of Academic Affairs, with reference number AA.0IE/10-25, UG, explained that the move was in line with its academic regulations.

The University of Ghana’s decision is based on Section 9.26 of the University Regulations for Junior Members (2017). It states that “A student who at the end of any academic year has a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) below 1.00 shall be withdrawn from the University. A candidate who does not qualify to progress to the next level shall be asked by the Registrar to withdraw from the University,” the regulation stipulates.

It further clarifies that there will be no probation for students who fail to meet this academic benchmark.

As a result, students who fail to achieve the minimum CGPA requirement are considered not to be in good academic standing and are required to withdraw from their respective programmes with immediate effect.

The affected students have until the end of next month to confirm their withdrawal from the academic institution.

“Affected students are required to confirm their withdrawal from the University via their official UG email addresses not later than Thursday, 30th November 2025,” parts of the statement warned.

The University didn’t explicitly say what the penalty would be for students who fail within this category’s failure to heed the orders, but noted that for some programmes, withdrawal letters would also be sent directly by the relevant schools or departments.

The current withdrawal by the University marks their second in three years. In 2023, the University of Ghana announced in a letter dated 6th October, informing students that continuing students in level 200 and 300 with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) below 1.0 will be dismissed from the University.

Urging students to confirm their academic status via their MIS Web, the school management informed affected students to expect dismissal mails via their official student emails.

“In this respect, current level 200 and level 300 students are hereby directed to review their academic performance from their online provisional transcripts in their MISWeb. Students who have received examination results for all 2022/2023 registered courses and obtained a CGPA below the approved minimum for their college should expect official withdrawal letters from the University via their Official UG email addresses soon”, UG noted.

They continued, “For those who have already remitted their tuition fees for the 2023/2024 academic year, please be assured that a refund will be processed upon request. Affected students were encouraged to make enquiries about the issue as they fit, the statement disclosed.

The CGPA minimum also applied to courses that were taken in the previous semester in the 2022/2023 academic year.

“For those who have already remitted their tuition fees for the 2023/2024 academic year, please be assured that a refund will be processed upon request. We recognise the significance of this announcement and extend an invitation to any student who has questions or requires support to contact the relevant College Academic Affairs Office. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.”

Founded on August 11, 1948, as the University College of the Gold Coast, the University of Ghana is the country’s premier university.

It operates a collegiate administrative structure comprising various colleges, alongside a central administration that includes the School of Graduate Studies and the Office of International Programmes.

Meanwhil, the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), embarked on the same exercise in March this year. It dismissed 38 first-year students for failing to meet the institution's academic requirements.

A letter dated March 7, signed by Dr Mohammed Adam, Acting Head of Department, and addressed to the Department of Social Studies Education, communicated the decision.

“This action is based on the students’ failure to meet the minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGP requirement of 1.0 and/or exceeding the permissible number of failed courses after resits, as stipulated in section 4.2.1 of the Revised Undergraduate Students Handbook (2019).

This decision was made after an audit and review of their First and Second Semester Examination results (2023/2024 Academic Year), during which the affected students received counselling before their withdrawal,” the letter explained.

As a result, these students cannot proceed to Level 200, attend lectures, or participate in examinations. The department was also instructed to update its records accordingly.

“Please ensure appropriate measures are taken to reflect these changes in your course register.

“The attached document details each student’s index number, name, and reason for withdrawal. Your prompt attention to this matter is crucial,” the letter added.

Among the 38 withdrawn students, 32 had a CGPA below 1.0, while six failed more than three courses by the end of the 2023/2024 academic year.