President John Dramani Mahama announces plans to establish two new public universities in Kintampo and Jasikan during SONA 2026 to expand access to tertiary education and promote balanced regional development in Ghana.
By Education Correspondent
A significant expansion of Ghana’s public university system is set to unfold following the announcement that two new universities will be established in the Bono East and Oti Regions.
President , delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address before Parliament, disclosed that the institutions will be located in and . The initiative forms part of government’s strategy to widen access to higher education and promote balanced regional development.
The announcement reflects growing recognition that access to tertiary education must extend beyond the country’s traditional academic centres.
Expanding the Reach of Public Universities
Over the past two decades, Ghana has experienced a steady rise in demand for university education. Secondary school completion rates have increased, while public universities continue to face pressure to accommodate a growing number of applicants.
The proposed institutions in Kintampo and Jasikan are intended to absorb part of this demand while bringing higher education closer to communities in previously underserved regions.
Education planners argue that decentralising tertiary education can stimulate local economic activity while strengthening regional human capital development.
Strategic Regional Development
The location of the universities carries strategic significance. Both the Bono East and Oti Regions are relatively new administrative regions created to accelerate development and improve public service delivery.
Establishing universities in these areas is expected to encourage infrastructure expansion, research activity, and local entrepreneurship. Universities often serve as anchors of regional development, generating employment and supporting innovation through research and community engagement.
The President noted that strengthening tertiary education infrastructure outside major metropolitan areas remains essential to national cohesion and inclusive development.
International Partnerships Supporting Expansion
The initiative will be supported through international collaboration. Government revealed that partnerships have already been secured to facilitate the establishment of the new institutions.
Such partnerships often provide technical assistance, infrastructure development support, and academic collaboration frameworks that help emerging universities establish strong foundations.
Strengthening Ghana’s Higher Education Landscape
The proposed universities will join an expanding network of public institutions that include universities, technical universities, and specialised colleges across the country.
Their academic focus is expected to reflect regional development priorities while addressing national demands in science, technology, agriculture, and applied research.
Education observers suggest that thoughtful programme design and adequate funding will be crucial to ensuring that the new universities maintain high academic standards while responding to labour market needs.
A Broader Vision for Education Reform
The announcement comes alongside several other education reforms presented during the address. These include the establishment of new technical universities, the construction of Regional TVET Centres of Excellence, and the ongoing review of the national curriculum to integrate emerging technological fields.
Together, these measures illustrate a broader attempt to align Ghana’s education system with economic transformation and technological advancement.
If implemented successfully, the universities in Kintampo and Jasikan could become important centres for research, knowledge creation, and community development, strengthening the role of higher education in Ghana’s national progress.
