Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced his intention to propose a bill in Parliament for the establishment of a new public university in the Bono East Region.
The planned institution, to be named the University of Health, Agriculture and Life Sciences, will be situated in Kintampo and is expected to harness the existing educational infrastructure in the area to create a full-fledged centre for academic excellence.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Governing Council of the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) in Accra, the minister said the university would contribute to the broader vision of ensuring that every region in Ghana hosts at least one major public university.
According to him, this vision aligns with former President John Mahama’s commitment to balanced regional development and improved access to higher education.
Haruna Iddrisu also used the occasion to re-emphasize the government’s commitment to reverting the names of certain universities to their original designations.
This, he explained, was a policy direction meant to preserve the historical identities of these institutions.
He pointed out that while the government appreciates the contributions of individuals after whom the institutions were renamed, national pride and institutional legacy must not be eroded.
He questioned the widespread renaming exercise carried out during President Akufo-Addo’s tenure, describing it as unusual by global standards and lacking sufficient public discourse.
Despite the proposed reversals, he assured Ghanaians that deserving personalities who have been honoured would continue to be recognised in appropriate ways, including through national awards.
