Ghana’s Education Minister Seeks Qatar’s Backing for Islamic Medical School in the North

The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has called on the Qatar Education Foundation to partner with Ghana in establishing an Islamic Medical School in the Northern Region.

He explained that the proposed medical school would also function as a teaching hospital for the University for Development Studies (UDS), enhancing access to medical education and improving healthcare delivery in the region.

“If you can give us a friendly concessionary financing to do that, so that the Umma in that particular area can make use of it,” he appealed.

Mr Iddrisu made the request when the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Ghana, His Excellency Khalid Bin Jabor Al-Mesallam, paid a courtesy call on him in Accra today.

The Minister emphasised the importance of deepening bilateral relations between Ghana and Qatar, with a particular focus on educational cooperation.

He expressed Ghana’s interest in fostering stronger institutional ties between the education ministries of both countries to promote mutual exchange of knowledge, best practices, and investment.

He also announced plans to review the Islamic curriculum for basic schools, starting from kindergarten, to encourage the teaching of Arabic as part of basic education in Ghana.

Hon. Iddrisu further expressed Ghana’s interest in participating in the upcoming Global Education Conference in Geneva, scheduled for September 2025, where Ghana’s progress and priorities in the education sector will be highlighted on the international stage.

In response, Ambassador Al-Mesallam welcomed the proposals and reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to exploring collaborative opportunities in support of Ghana’s education sector.

The meeting forms part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to strengthen education-centred partnerships between Ghana and its global allies.