The Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has urged the government of Indonesia to consider establishing an Islamic Medical University in Ghana, specifically in the northern part of the country.

According to him, such an institution would help bridge the developmental gap between northern and southern Ghana while strengthening bilateral and educational ties between the two nations.

Mr. Iddrisu made the appeal when the Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Ghana, Paskal A.B. Rois, paid a courtesy call on him in Accra.

The visit aimed to brief the Education Minister on scholarship opportunities in Indonesia, which several Ghanaian students are already benefiting from.

The minister highlighted the historical ties between Ghana and Indonesia, tracing them back to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the efforts of Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, and Indonesia’s former leader, Achmed Sukarno.

He expressed optimism that the Honorary Consul would continue to create opportunities that benefit both countries.

Mr. Iddrisu emphasized that a dedicated Islamic Medical University with a focus on science and technology could be a significant step forward.

He suggested that discussions at the highest levels could help fast-track its implementation while also deepening the Islamic ties between the Muslim community in northern Ghana and Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population.

“The future of the 21st century is about competencies, skills, and knowledge, particularly in science, mathematics, and engineering,” Iddrisu noted.

He added that Ghana continues to face a shortage of medical doctors, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and that such an institution would transform medical education in the north and across the country.

For his part, Paskal A.B. Rois congratulated Iddrisu on his appointment as Education Minister, commending his experience as a lawmaker and politician.

He welcomed the proposal for an Islamic Medical University and assured that he would escalate the matter to the relevant Indonesian authorities for consideration.

On scholarships, Rois briefed the minister on Indonesia’s KNB Scholarship, which is currently open for applications, along with other opportunities from over 30 Indonesian universities for students from developing countries, including Ghana.

He revealed that more than 60 Ghanaian students are currently pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in Indonesia, with six returning home after completing their studies in recent years.

The consul also noted that last year, his office engaged with pro-vice chancellors of institutions such as Ghana Technology University, the University of Education, Winneba, and the University of Cape Coast.

These meetings, he said, have laid the groundwork for a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will facilitate student and faculty exchange programs between Ghanaian and Indonesian universities.

Rois expressed hope that Iddrisu would leverage his expertise to further strengthen Ghana’s education sector and enhance collaboration between the two countries through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.