The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu has appealed to the government of the Republic of Indonesia to consider establishing an Islamic Medical University in the northern part of Ghana.

He asserted that this would contribute effectively to enhancing the human resources in the health sector in the north hereby improving healthcare delivery and taking the country closer to achieving universal health coverage.

Mr. Iddrisu who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, made the call when the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia, Paskal A.B. Rois paid a courtesy call on him at the Education Ministry in Accra.

He advised that the request should be discussed at the appropriate levels to foster religious ties between the Muslim community in Ghana and their counterparts in Indonesia.

Mr. Iddrisu traced the long-standing bilateral relations between the two sister countries to the eras and efforts of the first Presidents of Ghana and Indonesia, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Achmed Sukarno respectively.

“These two leaders, through the Non-Aligned Movement, cemented the cherished ties between the two giant nations and their peoples”, he said.

He encouraged the Honorary Consul to continue to work harder to create and leverage opportunities that would increase the benefit of the two countries.

The Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Ghana, Paskal A.B. Rois congratulated Mr. Iddrisu on his appointment to lead the Education Ministry and promised to forward his request to the appropriate quarters for consideration.

He shared optimism that Mr. Iddrisu would deploy his rich experience, expertise, and knowledge from previous portfolios to transform and improve the standard of education in the country.

He said Indonesia takes a keen interest in the development of all sectors of Ghana’s economy, “which of course is driven by the education sector.”

He also highlighted scholarship opportunities available from Indonesia and encouraged Ghanaian students to take advantage of them.

Mr. Rois also indicated that he had been engaging Pro and Vice Chancellors of some tertiary institutions including the Ghana Technology University in Accra, the University of Education, Winneba, and the University of Cape Coast to discuss collaboration with sister institutions in Indonesia.

“There is much development, where we want to have collaboration. Where we can have a lecture-to-lecture collaboration, students, exchange programmes, and capacity building. We have all these put in place and I think it is the right course”, he said.