The Minister of Education is urging Indonesia to build an Islamic Medical University in Ghana’s northern region.

Haruna Iddrisu, the Tamale South Member of Parliament and Minister of Education, has urged the Indonesian government to think about constructing an Islamic Medical University in Northern Ghana.

According to him, such an institution would enhance the long-standing diplomatic and educational relations between Ghana and Indonesia while also aiding in closing the development gap between the country’s northern and southern regions.

Iddrisu made the plea when H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Ghana, paid him a courtesy call at his Accra office. The purpose of the visit was to inform the minister about scholarship options in Indonesia, which are already helping a number of Ghanaian students.

The minister traced the two countries’ historical ties, recalling the efforts of Indonesia’s President Achmed Sukarno and Ghana’s first President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to fortify bilateral ties through the Non-Aligned Movement. He was hopeful that these relationships will be strengthened by more partnerships, such as the planned Islamic Medical University.

In addition to expediting the training of medical professionals in Northern Ghana, Iddrisu emphasised that the establishment of such a university, with a strong emphasis on science and medical education, would strengthen ties between Ghana’s Muslim community and Indonesia, one of the largest Islamic countries in the world.

“The 21st century is about knowledge, skills, and competencies that essentially fit into science, math, and engineering,” he said. A medical university in the north will revolutionise medical education in the area and the nation, he continued, adding that Ghana currently lacks enough medical professionals, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas.

H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois responded by praising the minister’s suggestion and promising to bring the issue up with Indonesian authorities for review. He acknowledged Hon. Iddrisu’s extensive background in lawmaking and governance and congratulated him on his appointment as Education Minister.

The minister was also briefed by the Honorary Consul on Indonesia’s many scholarship programs, such as the KNB Scholarship, which is currently open to students from Ghana and other developing nations. According to him, more than 60 Ghanaian students are presently enrolled at Indonesian universities to pursue undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees; a few of them have already finished their education and returned home.

Mr. Rois also emphasised recent interactions between his office and important Ghanaian universities, such as the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), and Ghana Technology University (GTU). According to him, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would soon enable faculty and student exchange programs between Ghanaian and Indonesian universities has been made possible by these talks.

Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, he hoped the Education Minister would use his position and experience to improve cooperation between the two nations and further boost Ghana’s educational system.