Education Minister urges Indonesia to establish Islamic Medical University in Northern Ghana

The Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has called on the Indonesian government to consider establishing an Islamic Medical University in Northern Ghana. 

He believes such an institution would help bridge the development gap between the northern and southern parts of the country while strengthening the long-standing educational and diplomatic ties between Ghana and Indonesia.

Iddrisu made the appeal during a courtesy visit by the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Ghana, H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois, to his office in Accra. The visit aimed to brief the minister on Indonesian scholarship opportunities, from which several Ghanaian students are already benefitting.

Tracing the historical ties between the two nations, the minister recalled the efforts of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and Indonesia’s President, Achmed Sukarno, in strengthening bilateral relations through the Non-Aligned Movement. He expressed optimism that further collaborations, including the proposed Islamic Medical University, would deepen these ties.

Iddrisu emphasised that the establishment of such a university, with a strong focus on science and medical education, would not only accelerate the training of medical professionals in Northern Ghana but also cement relations between Ghana’s Muslim community and Indonesia, one of the world’s largest Islamic nations.

“The future of the 21st century is about competencies, skills, and knowledge, which basically dovetails into science, mathematics, and engineering,” he noted. He added that Ghana still has a shortage of medical doctors, particularly in rural and deprived areas, and that a medical university in the north would bring a paradigm shift in medical education in the region and the country as a whole.

In response, H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois welcomed the minister’s proposal and assured him that he would escalate the matter to Indonesian authorities for consideration. He congratulated Hon. Iddrisu on his appointment as Education Minister, acknowledging his vast experience in governance and lawmaking.

The Honorary Consul also briefed the minister on Indonesia’s various scholarship schemes, including the KNB Scholarship, which is currently available for students from developing countries, including Ghana. He disclosed that over 60 Ghanaian students are currently pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Indonesia, with several others having completed their studies and returned home.

Additionally, Mr Rois highlighted recent engagements between his office and key Ghanaian universities, including Ghana Technology University (GTU), the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), and the University of Cape Coast (UCC). These discussions, he said, have paved the way for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will soon facilitate student and faculty exchange programmes between Ghanaian and Indonesian universities.

He expressed hope that the Education Minister would use his position and expertise to further strengthen Ghana’s education sector and enhance collaborations between the two countries through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.