Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu
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 emphasized that such an institution would help bridge the development gap between the northern and southern regions of the country while strengthening bilateral and educational ties between Ghana and Indonesia.
Haruna 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, at his office in Accra. The visit aimed to brief the minister on Indonesian scholarship opportunities, which have already benefited several Ghanaian students.
Tracing the historical ties between the two nations, the minister highlighted the contributions of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and Indonesia’s first president, H.E. Achmed Sukarno, who solidified relations through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
He expressed confidence that the Honorary Consul would continue to foster opportunities that would benefit both countries.
The minister stressed the importance of science, mathematics, and engineering in modern education and underscored Ghana’s shortage of medical professionals, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
He asserted that an Islamic Medical University in Northern Ghana could significantly contribute to medical education while further strengthening ties between the predominantly Muslim communities in Northern Ghana and Indonesia.
H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois welcomed the minister’s proposal and assured him that he would escalate the discussion to the highest levels for consideration by Indonesian authorities.
He also provided updates on Indonesia’s KNB Scholarship, which is currently open, along with several other scholarship programs available for students from developing countries, including Ghana.
According to Mr. Rois, more than 60 Ghanaian students are currently enrolled in undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in Indonesia, with some having returned after completing their studies.
He also revealed that his office had engaged with Ghanaian universities, including Ghana Technology University (GTU), the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), and the University of Cape Coast (UCC), to foster academic partnerships.
These engagements are expected to lead to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for student and faculty exchange programs between Ghanaian and Indonesian institutions.
Rois expressed optimism that Haruna Iddrisu’s leadership would contribute to revitalizing Ghana’s education sector and further deepening educational collaborations between the two nations.
GA/MA