The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced plans to introduce a bill in Parliament later this year to establish a new public university in the Bono Region. The proposed institution, to be named the University of Health, Agriculture and Life Sciences, will be located in Kintampo in the Bono East Region.
Speaking during the inauguration of the governing council of the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) in Accra, Mr. Iddrisu said the move is part of a broader strategy to ensure every region in Ghana hosts at least one full-fledged higher education institution.
“I intend to table that bill in Parliament as soon as Parliament reconvenes, so that those institutions in and around Kintampo with the capacity can begin laying the foundation for the University of Health, Agriculture and Life Sciences,” the minister stated.
Expanding Regional Access to Higher Education
Mr. Iddrisu highlighted that the proposed university aligns with President John Mahama’s vision of equitable access to tertiary education across all regions. The initiative is expected to leverage existing academic and healthcare infrastructure in Kintampo to fast-track the establishment of the new university.
SDD-UBIDS Governing Council Inaugurated
The minister made these remarks while inaugurating the 11-member governing council of SDD-UBIDS, based in Wa in the Upper West Region. The council is chaired by former Minister for Defence and ex-Member of Parliament for Nandom, Dr. Benjamin Bewa-Nyog Kunbuor.
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Mr. Iddrisu charged the new council to position the university as a leading institution in Ghana’s higher education sector, urging them to uphold academic excellence and promote inclusive development.
Restoring Historical Names of Universities
In a related development, the minister reaffirmed the government’s decision to restore the original names of public universities that were renamed under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Mr. Iddrisu described the renaming process as arbitrary and lacking precedent.
“There is a policy shift. The names will change, and we intend to introduce a bill in Parliament to restore the historical names of these institutions,” he said. “This is not to diminish the contributions of those the universities were renamed after, but to preserve the integrity of our educational history.”
He further emphasized that individuals deserving of national recognition would continue to be honored appropriately, but questioned the manner in which institutions were renamed, saying, “Where in the world do you see that happening?”
Looking Ahead
If approved, the establishment of the University of Health, Agriculture and Life Sciences would mark a significant expansion of Ghana’s public university system and help address regional disparities in access to specialized higher education, particularly in fields vital to national development.
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