The African University of Communications and Business (AUCB), a fully Chartered private university is one of the few institutions in Ghana, and on the African continent, whose flagship program is centred on Communication Studies anchored within the Pan-African framework. As a private tertiary institution located in Adabraka, Accra, it is dedicated primarily to the study, teaching and research of Communication, Media and Business Administration.

AUCB was established in 2002 by Honourable Kojo Yankah. Formerly known as the Africa Institute of Journalism & Communications (AIJC), the Institute admitted the first batch of diploma students for its Communication Studies program in 2002 and was formally accredited as a tertiary institution by the then National Accreditation Board (NAB) of Ghana in 2004. In 2007, the Institute received another approval from the NAB to offer Bachelor of Arts degree courses and became known as the African University College of Communications (AUCC), becoming the first University in Africa to offer journalism and communication studies as its flagship program. In 2010, AUCC was again granted accreditation to offer Bachelor of Science degree courses in Business Administration. It also received accreditation to offer postgraduate degree programs in Communication and Business Administration.

Over the years, AUCC has established centres and institutions to offer opportunities for continuous learning to its students and the general public. These include the Kwabena Nketia Centre for African Studies (KNCAS) established in 2015 and the Ama Ata Aidoo Centre for Creative Writing (AAACCW) in 2017. In 2022, the Business and Professional Development Centre (BPDC) was established to seek non-tuition revenue sources to supplement tuition revenue. It was tasked to offer short certification programs, grants and consulting services, and professional development workshops and training to students and the general public.

Similarly, AUCC boasts strong affiliations with local universities such as the University of Ghana (UG), the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), the University of Cape Coast (UCC), and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Its international partners include the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Africa Education Coalition (HAEC), a coalition of about 13 Colleges and Universities in the USA, Morgan State University, USA, Clark Atlanta University, the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and the Chamber of African Content Producers (CACP). The University has also been associated with institutions such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Mo Ibrahim Foundation, the Africa2Green International, the Voice of America (VOA), the United States Embassy in Ghana, and more recently, with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and YMCA, Ghana.

In recognition of its successful academic programs, UNESCO designated AUCB as a Centre of Excellence in Media and Communication Studies in the mid-2000s. In March 2012, a joint radio program by students of AUCC and Simmons College in Boston, USA, won the “Most Innovative Programming in College Radio Award” in New York, USA. The Minister for Inner Cities and Zongo Development and a Former Minister of Information commended the University with this statement, “AUCC is the single most prestigious communication school in Ghana. Communication is the noblest profession, and the most difficult responsibility in any organisation, so establishing a university to train the youth to address communication problems is a laudable initiative”.

In recognition of its excellent academic programmes, the institution was awarded a Presidential Charter in December 2024 to run as a fully-fledged autonomous University.

The journey to achieving this new status has been made possible through years of invaluable mentorship and guidance from the University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, University of Education, Winneba, as well as Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and Ministry of Education. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these esteemed institutions for their unwavering support.

This significant accomplishment aligns with the University’s new name African University of Communications and Business (AUCB), which embodies the University’s expanded mission to provide world-class education and professional development opportunities that combine excellence in communication, media and business administration education with robust industry and technology-oriented programs in business and entrepreneurship within a Pan African framework. As a Chartered University, AUCB reaffirms its commitment to equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s evolving economic and social landscapes.