Damongo: President John Dramani Mahama has announced a plan by the government to establish a University of Agriculture and Allied Sciences in the Savannah Region. The President stated that the university's focus would be on agriculture and the allied sciences to train the human resources necessary to drive the Feed Ghana programme and the Agriculture for Economic Transformation agenda.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama emphasized that the university would be integral to the national agenda for skills-driven development. It will align with the National Education Expansion Framework and the 2025 Budget, which allocates increased funding for tertiary infrastructure in deprived regions. This announcement was made during a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Savannah Region in Damongo, as part of the President's Thank You Tour following the December 7, 2024 general election.
The President underscored that education remains the foundation of the nation's progress. In line with the NDC 2024 Manifesto, the government is committed to equalizing access to quality education across all regions. He announced the establishment of public universities in all six new regions, including the Savannah Region. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education has been tasked with establishing a STEM Senior High School in Tinga, Bole District, and a TVET Centre of Excellence in Salaga.
The President also announced the official absorption of the Savannah College of Education in Daboya as a public teacher training institution. He directed the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission and GETFund to expedite staff recruitment and infrastructure development at the school. Additionally, work on the abandoned College of Education at Doli near Bole will resume this year.
On health, President Mahama reiterated the promise of regional hospitals for all six new regions, with a new regional hospital to be built in Damongo. He also announced plans for a modern sports stadium in Damongo and the development of regional investment plans for the new regions. These plans aim to help the new regions catch up with the older ones and align their local priorities with national budget allocations, covering areas such as feeder roads, irrigation, healthcare, and digital infrastructure.
