The Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has assured the University for Development Studies (UDS) that government will stand behind the expansion of its Yendi Campus, including its medical school and teaching hospital, as the institution settles into a new leadership era under Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mohammed Muniru Iddrisu.
The commitment came during a courtesy call the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor paid on the Minister, marking one of his first official engagements since assuming office and setting the tone for how government intends to relate with the university going forward.
Hon. Iddrisu used the meeting to underscore the value government places on UDS as an institution that has widened access to tertiary education for students across the northern part of the country, a role he described as central to national development priorities.
The Minister’s remarks touched directly on the Yendi Campus, where UDS has been working to grow its medical training programmes alongside plans for a teaching hospital that would serve both the university’s academic needs and the wider Yendi community.
Government Signals a Hands-Off Approach to Governance
Beyond the assurance of support, Hon. Iddrisu sought to address concerns that have often trailed government engagement with public universities, telling the Vice-Chancellor plainly that the administration of President John Dramani Mahama has no interest in interfering with how institutions of higher learning run their internal affairs.
He explained that respecting the autonomy of university councils and management remains a guiding principle for the Ministry, adding that government’s engagement with tertiary institutions would continue to be defined by partnership rather than control.
Call for Clarity on UDS’s Needs
While reaffirming government’s readiness to support the university’s growth, the Minister was equally clear that the pace and scope of assistance would depend on how well UDS communicated its priorities. He urged the university’s management to put together a clear and well-justified account of its needs, particularly around the Yendi Campus, the medical school and the teaching hospital, to allow the Ministry to properly assess where support could be channelled.
“We need the university to lay out its needs with clear justification. That is what allows government to know exactly where and how to step in.”
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu
New Leadership, Renewed Expectations
Prof. Mohammed Muniru Iddrisu’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor comes at a pivotal moment for UDS, with the Yendi Campus in particular seen as central to the university’s long-term ambitions in medical education and healthcare delivery for the northern region.
The courtesy call is likely to be followed by further engagements as the new administration familiarises itself with ongoing projects and outstanding institutional needs.
For UDS, the medical school and its accompanying teaching hospital represent more than an academic expansion. The facilities are expected to help address the shortage of trained health professionals and specialised medical services in Ghana’s north, an area that has historically lagged behind other parts of the country in access to advanced healthcare and medical training infrastructure.
Council and Management Expected to Drive Next Steps
The Ministry of Education has not yet outlined a specific timeline or funding framework for the Yendi Campus project, but the courtesy call signals an early willingness on both sides to keep communication open.
Attention now turns to UDS management, which is expected to compile the detailed proposal the Minister has requested, setting the stage for further discussions on how government support will be structured and delivered.
The Ministry indicated that it looks forward to continued engagement with the university’s council and management as plans for the campus, the medical school and the teaching hospital take shape in the coming months.
