Ghana’s Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has announced the signing of two separate Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with leading construction and engineering firms from Egypt and Morocco, paving the way for the establishment of two new public universities in Jasikan and Kintampo.
This strategic move marks a significant step in the Mahama-led administration’s vision to ensure every region in Ghana has a publicly funded university, further expanding access to tertiary education and addressing regional disparities in human capital development.
The MOUs, signed with the Gharably Integrated Engineering Company (GEICO) from Egypt and the CMS Group from Morocco, demonstrate a renewed commitment to inclusive and regionally balanced educational development.
The two companies have expressed their readiness to partner with the Ministry of Education to deliver on the promise of building world-class institutions in the Oti and Bono East regions.
Describing the development as a “transformative step towards inclusive national development,” Hon. Haruna Iddrisu emphasized that the two universities will provide tertiary education opportunities to underserved communities.
He also indicated that the establishment of the two separate universities will play a pivotal role in resolving the persistent skills gap that hampers socio-economic progress in these regions.
NDC’s Broader Educational Policy
The new initiative is firmly rooted in the broader educational policy framework of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which has consistently prioritised education as a pillar of national development.
The announcement aligns with the party’s historical trajectory in expanding Ghana’s public university infrastructure. The NDC is widely credited with laying the foundation for the majority of Ghana’s public universities.
These include the establishment of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD-Ghana) in Somanya and the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani during the previous NDC administration led by the late President John Evans Atta Mills and his successor, President John Dramani Mahama.
The two new universities are expected to be tailored to the development needs of their host regions, offering specialised programmes that respond to regional and national demands for human resources in critical sectors.
The partnership with GEICO and CMS Group also reflects the government’s strategy of leveraging international expertise and financing to support its development agenda.
Both companies have strong portfolios in large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa and have pledged their technical and financial support to ensure the timely delivery of the projects.
The expansion of the university network into Jasikan and Kintampo aligns with the broader goals of decentralising tertiary education and making it more responsive to local and national development aspirations.
Beyond infrastructure, the Ministry of Education is also expected to work with academic stakeholders and relevant regulatory bodies such as the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to ensure that the new institutions meet required academic standards and attract qualified faculty and students.
The two institutions are anticipated to begin with faculties and departments that reflect the economic potential and developmental challenges of the Oti and Bono East regions, such as agriculture, health sciences, education, and environmental studies.
In concluding his remarks, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to educational equity and quality.
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