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Ghana has taken another significant step toward expanding tertiary education in the northern part of the country following the signing of a US$30 million grant agreement with the People’s Republic of China for the construction of a new university in Damongo, the capital of the Savannah Region.
The agreement was formalised between Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Tong Defa, marking a major milestone in the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two countries. The funding, which comes in the form of a grant, will be used exclusively to support the development of the university’s core infrastructure.
According to government officials, the proposed institution is expected to focus largely on construction, engineering, and technical disciplines, areas considered critical to Ghana’s industrialisation and infrastructure drive. Once completed, the university is projected to serve thousands of students from the Savannah Region and surrounding areas who currently travel long distances to access higher education.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Forson expressed Ghana’s appreciation to the Chinese government for what he described as a “strategic and timely intervention” in the country’s education sector. He noted that the project aligns with the government’s broader agenda of decentralising tertiary education and ensuring equitable development across all regions.
The Chinese Ambassador, on his part, reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s socio-economic development, particularly in education, human capital development, and infrastructure. He described the Damongo university project as a symbol of the deep trust and cooperation that has characterised Ghana-China relations over the years.
For residents of the Savannah Region, the announcement has been met with optimism. Beyond education, the project is expected to stimulate the local economy through job creation during construction, increased commercial activity, and long-term institutional development once the university becomes operational.
The Damongo university project adds to a growing list of Chinese-supported initiatives in Ghana, reflecting a partnership that continues to shape key sectors of the national economy. When completed, the institution is expected to play a transformative role in bridging educational gaps and positioning the Savannah Region as an emerging hub for technical and professional training in northern Ghana.
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