The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has intensified efforts to advance the establishment of the proposed University of Science and Technology in Damongo, following high-level discussions with the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Cong Song.
The engagement formed part of the government’s efforts to mobilise the additional resources and strategic partnerships required to translate the project into a fully-fledged centre of excellence in science and technology.
The Government of Ghana secured a US$30 million grant from the Government of China last year to commence construction of the proposed university, which is expected to focus on critical areas including Science and Technology, Robotics, Digital Sciences and Artificial Intelligence.
However, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu noted that the grant, while significant, would not be sufficient to finance the complete establishment and equipping of a modern university of the proposed standard.
According to the Minister, the overall cost of constructing and equipping the university is expected to exceed US$100 million, making additional financing and partnerships critical to the successful completion of the project.
He therefore called for stronger collaboration and additional support to enable the government to provide the necessary infrastructure, laboratories, equipment and other facilities required to make the institution a world-class centre for science, technology and innovation.
The Minister’s engagement with the Chinese Ambassador underscores the government’s determination to build on the existing Ghana-China partnership to accelerate major investments in the country’s education sector.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu further disclosed that the government has a broader vision of establishing universities in regions across the country that currently do not have one, as part of efforts to expand access to quality tertiary education and promote balanced national development.
The initiative is expected to reduce geographical disparities in access to higher education while creating opportunities for young people outside the traditional university centres to pursue tertiary education and acquire skills in emerging areas of the global economy.
For Damongo in particular, the proposed Science and Technology University is expected to provide a major boost to the Savannah Region by creating opportunities for advanced education, research, innovation and skills development.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Cong Song, commended Hon. Haruna Iddrisu for his leadership and commitment to advancing Ghana’s education transformation agenda.
He reaffirmed the importance of continued Ghana-China cooperation in supporting educational development and strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
The engagement therefore signals a renewed effort by the government to leverage international partnerships to mobilise the resources needed to expand Ghana’s tertiary education infrastructure and position the country’s universities to respond to the demands of science, technology and the digital economy.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
