Ho Technical University has a history that dates back to 1968 when it was established as a technical institute with the primary objective of providing pre-technical education. By 1972, the institute had made significant progress in upgrading the courses that were offered. By 1986, the institute became a polytechnic and in 1993 it was upgraded to a fully-fledged tertiary institution. In 2007 it was given the mandate to award its own degrees to the highest level. The university’s vision is to become a hub of practical education and innovation, advancing sustainable global development. The university is located in the Volta region of Ghana. One of Ghana's 16 administrative regions, Volta is located west of the republic of Togo to the east of Lake Volta. Divided into 25 administrative districts, the region is multi-ethnic and multilingual, including groups such as the Ewe, the Guan, and the Akan people.
Academically, the university is organised into five faculties: the faculty of art and design, faculty of applied sciences and technology, faculty of applied social sciences, faculty of engineering, and the faculty of built and natural environment. Within each faculty are different departments, offering a wide range of both undergraduate degree programmes. There are also two schools within the university: the HTU business school and the school of graduate studies. At the heart of the university are five core values: integrity, social inclusiveness, environmental sustainability, quality and innovativeness. By embodying these values, the university hopes to achieve its mission of developing highly competent human capital through career-focused education, skills training, and research and innovation.