The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced the government's intention to establish a new public university dedicated to health, agriculture, and life sciences in Kintampo, located in the Bono East Region.

The proposed institution will serve the broader Bono Region and contribute significantly to Ghana’s national strategy for agricultural development.

This announcement was made during the official inauguration of the Governing Council of the S.D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies in Wa.

According to the Minister, the Ministry of Education is in the final stages of preparing a bill that will be presented to Parliament to provide the legal framework for the establishment of the University of Health, Agriculture and Life Sciences, expected to focus on agricultural innovation, life sciences and rural development, with the overarching aim of enhancing Ghana’s food security and promoting sustainable development.

The Minister reiterated the President's commitment to ensuring that each of Ghana's 16 regions hosts a public university.

“It is the desire of the government that every region of Ghana will be host to one higher education institution of learning. It is the dream and desire of President Mahama that in each region there will be an established university, but we have to begin somewhere, and we have begun somewhat in getting that done,” he stated

“One of the new universities that I will lay a bill in Parliament for will be the University of Health, Agriculture and Life Sciences at Kintampo to serve the Bono Region. I intend to table the bill in Parliament as soon as Parliament reconvenes,” he announced.

In addition to unveiling plans for the new university, the Minister also revealed the Government’s intention to revert the names of certain public universities that were changed under the previous administration. He emphasised that this policy is aimed at restoring the historical identities of these institutions and reaffirming their foundational missions.

“I’ve heard people, some very critical of us, saying, ‘Why did we announce that the names of the universities will change?' Yes, it will change; that’s the policy decision of the government, and we intend to get the bill into parliament for the names to change to reflect the historical names of those institutions,” the Minister explained.

“It’s not to say that we do not appreciate the sacrifices and contributions of those individuals the institutions were named after. If I were to be very political, I would have just said that President Akufo-Addo was busy naming universities he didn’t build, but I will not say that,” he clarified

The Minister gave his assurance that the bill would be tabled in Parliament promptly upon its return from recess.