The Polytechnic started in 1968 as a technical institute with the primary goal of providing pre-technical education.

However, it was not until 1993 that it got full backing of the law (Polytechnic Law 321) to become a fully-fledged tertiary institution, charged with the responsibility of training students to the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Degree Levels.

Ho Technical University is one of the premier national tertiary institutions in the Volta Region.

The University has its antecedents in the former Ho Technical Institute, which was established in 1968 to provide pre-technical training courses in various engineering and building trades.

In 1972, the pre-technical courses were upgraded to more advanced programmes in technical, business and other vocational disciplines.