Historically, planning education in Ghana began in 1958 with the establishment of a planning programme in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Building of the Kumasi College of Arts, Science and Technology.  The Programme prepared students for the intermediate examinations of the Town Planning Institute of Great Britain.  After passing the intermediate examination, students were sent to Universities in Great Britain to obtain full professional qualifications.

Following from the above, the United Nations assisted the Government of Ghana to establish an Institute for Community Planning on the Campus of Kumasi College of Arts, Science and Technology in 1961.  The objective of the Institute was to train and educate planners at the sub-professional level.  Successful students were awarded Diplomas of the Institute.  It was a two-year programme with an annual intake of 20 students.  In 1963, the Institute for Community Planning was absorbed by the newly created Faculty of Architecture of the Kumasi College whose status had been raised a year earlier to that of a University.  The duration of the Diploma programme was extended to three years by the Faculty in order to enable successful Diploma holders to obtain jobs in the civil and public services at salaries proportionate with and appropriate to their skills and level of education.