<h1><br></h1><p>Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced the initiative during a public engagement held as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s working visit to the Upper East Region.</p><p>According to the Minister, the proposed institutions will form part of the government’s broader strategy to increase opportunities for tertiary education, particularly for young people in regions where access to public universities remains limited.</p><p>Mr Iddrisu disclosed that work on the proposed University of Science and Technology in Damongo in the Savannah Region was already progressing. He said the design-and-build arrangements for the institution had been concluded.</p><p>He further stated that President Mahama had committed US$30 million in grant resources towards the commencement of the Damongo project, while the government continues efforts to mobilise additional funding for its development.</p><p>The Minister said the expansion of tertiary education was intended to ensure that more young people could pursue professional, scientific and technical programmes without having to travel long distances to access specialised education.</p><p>He also announced plans to expand medical education in the Upper East Region. According to him, the government is positioning a university in the region to offer medical training, subject to the necessary accreditation and availability of additional resources.</p><p>The proposed expansion comes alongside other government investments in the education sector. Mr Iddrisu disclosed that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had awarded 2,038 contracts covering basic, secondary and tertiary institutions across the country.</p><p>At the secondary level, the government is also committing between US$2.8 billion and US$3 billion under a World Bank-supported programme aimed at expanding access to secondary education. Twelve schools in the Upper East Region are expected to benefit from the programme.</p><p>The Education Minister said the government’s education agenda goes beyond increasing enrolment, stressing the need to improve infrastructure and provide students with adequately resourced institutions.</p><p>He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Free Senior High School programme, saying the policy “has come to stay” while noting that its implementation is being reviewed to address challenges relating to infrastructure, feeding and quality assurance.</p><p>The planned universities in the four regions are expected to broaden access to higher education and support the development of skills needed to drive economic and regional development.</p><p><br></p>