President John Dramani Mahama has announced the establishment of a public university in the Savannah Region, pledging that the institution will drive agricultural transformation and boost skills development in one of Ghana’s most underserved areas.
Addressing residents of Damongo on Saturday, June 14, during a regional working visit, President Mahama said the university will specialise in agriculture and allied sciences and serve as a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to link education with national development priorities.
“I’m proud to announce that, in line with our commitment to expand access to tertiary education, a public university will be built right here in the Savannah Region,” the President declared.
He explained that the institution would support the government’s flagship “Feed Ghana” initiative — a key component of the national plan to achieve agricultural-led economic transformation.
“This university will not only be symbolic; it will be functional, targeted, and grounded in our national agenda for skills-driven development,” he stated.
According to President Mahama, the initiative forms part of the government’s education expansion framework and is backed by increased funding for tertiary infrastructure as outlined in the 2025 national budget.
“This university will train the human resources to drive our Feed Ghana programme and help deliver an agriculture-for-economic-transformation agenda,” he noted.
He stressed that the project is particularly crucial for regions like Savannah, where access to quality higher education has historically lagged behind.
“This investment is necessary for deprived regions such as Savannah. Equitable development is only possible if every region has the tools—especially education—to contribute meaningfully to our national growth,” President Mahama said.
The new university will also contribute to reducing youth unemployment by producing a workforce equipped with practical skills in agriculture, technology, and agribusiness.
The announcement was met with enthusiastic support from residents of Damongo and surrounding areas, who view the project as a long-awaited development milestone for the region.
The planned institution is part of a broader national effort to expand educational infrastructure across Ghana, with a focus on empowering rural and underserved communities to play active roles in the country’s development.
With education, agriculture, and job creation at the heart of President Mahama’s second administration, the new university is expected to play a vital role in reshaping the economic landscape of the Savannah Region.
