$30m China grant insufficient for Damongo university project – Haruna Iddrisu

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has held discussions with the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Cong Song, on efforts to advance the proposed University of Science and Technology in Damongo. The meeting focused on the progress of the project, for which the Government of Ghana secured a US$30 million grant from the Government of China last year to support the commencement of construction.

Speaking during the engagement, Haruna Iddrisu said the proposed university is expected to serve as a centre of excellence in Science and Technology, Robotics, Digital Sciences, Artificial Intelligence and other emerging fields. He said the institution would help expand access to specialised training in areas critical to Ghana’s development and support the country’s efforts to build a skilled workforce for the future. The Minister, however, noted that the US$30 million grant would not be enough to fully establish and equip the university.

According to him, the cost of constructing and equipping a new university is estimated to exceed US$100 million. He therefore called for additional financial support and stronger partnerships to enable the government to complete the project and provide the infrastructure, laboratories and other facilities required to make the institution fully operational. The Education Minister further disclosed that the government has a broader plan to establish universities in regions across the country that currently do not have one.

He said the initiative forms part of efforts to expand access to quality tertiary education and promote balanced national development by ensuring that students across the country have greater access to higher education. The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Cong Song, commended the Education Minister for his leadership and commitment to advancing Ghana’s education transformation agenda.

He reaffirmed the importance of Ghana-China cooperation in supporting educational development and expressed confidence that continued collaboration would strengthen bilateral relations and contribute to the development of both countries Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has disclosed that the US$30 million grant secured from China for the proposed University of Science and Technology in Damongo will not be sufficient to fully finance the project. Mr Iddrisu made the disclosure during a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E.

Cong Song, as discussions continue on efforts to advance the project. The Government of Ghana secured the US$30 million grant from China last year to support the commencement of construction of the university. According to the Education Minister, however, establishing and equipping a new university would require more than US$100 million.