Mahama backs UTAS medical school in Navrongo, secures funding for abandoned lab

President John Dramani Mahama has expressed support for plans to establish a medical school at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Navrongo in the Upper East Region.

The initiative, according to the President, forms part of efforts to expand Ghana’s medical training capacity and increase the number of doctors produced to meet the country’s growing healthcare needs.

President Mahama made the commitment during a visit to UTAS, where he inspected the construction of a multi-complex science laboratory project that was started in 2016 but remained unfinished for several years.

He said expanding medical education to more universities would enable Ghana to train additional medical professionals and strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

President Mahama further noted that increasing the country’s capacity to train health professionals could position Ghana to provide skilled healthcare workers to other countries facing shortages.

He assured the university of government’s support as it expands its programmes in science, technology and other professional disciplines, with the aim of developing UTAS into a centre of excellence.

During the visit, President Mahama announced that funding had been secured to complete the university’s multi-complex science laboratory project.

He said the facility was among several abandoned government projects identified by his administration for completion after assuming office.

According to him, the government made a commitment during the 2024 election campaign to identify abandoned projects across the country and mobilise resources to complete them.

“Since public funds have already been committed to these projects, it is important that we complete them and ensure they serve the purpose for which they were initiated,” President Mahama said.

The laboratory project, which commenced in 2016, was subsequently left unfinished, leaving the university without the full benefit of the facility.

President Mahama said the newly secured funding would allow construction to resume, with the project expected to be completed and handed over in 2027.

After inspecting the facility, he expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and said its completion would significantly strengthen UTAS’s capacity to provide practical and quality education in science-related disciplines.

President Mahama also directed the Minister for Roads and Highways and his deputy to consider UTAS’s request for the construction of approximately five kilometres of internal roads at the university.

He said UTAS has an important role to play in Ghana’s development by producing professionals with the skills needed in engineering, science and technology.

The President reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in institutions such as UTAS to strengthen science, technology and professional education and contribute to Ghana’s socio-economic development.

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