China Grants Ghana $30M for Northern University Project

Students in northern Ghana will soon have a major new pathway to higher education, thanks to a $30 million partnership between Ghana and China.

The two nations signed the grant agreement last week to build a university in Damongo, the capital of Ghana's Savannah Region. Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and outgoing Chinese Ambassador H.E. Tong Defa finalized the deal, celebrating decades of cooperation between their countries.

For communities in northern Ghana, the new university represents something powerful: opportunity closer to home. Many students in the region currently face long journeys or can't afford to attend universities in other parts of the country. This campus will change that equation.

Ambassador Tong's time in Ghana was brief, but productive. During his tenure, China finalized two major grants for Ghana, including funding for a multipurpose market in Aflao alongside the Damongo university project. The Ambassador said he felt proud of what the two countries accomplished together in such a short time.

Dr. Forson emphasized that the relationship goes way back, to the era of President Kwame Nkrumah and Chairman Mao. That historical friendship continues to bear fruit today, with Chinese investment touching education, infrastructure, health, and trade across Ghana.

The Finance Minister also shared exciting news about future cooperation. Ghana is exploring ways to conduct trade directly in Ghanaian cedis and Chinese renminbi, which would help both countries avoid losses from currency exchanges. The Bank of Ghana will be involved in these policy discussions moving forward.

The Ripple Effect

When the Damongo university opens its doors, the benefits will spread far beyond its campus walls. More local students pursuing higher education means more doctors, teachers, engineers, and entrepreneurs staying in or returning to northern Ghana. Families won't have to choose between education and keeping their children close to home.

The project also demonstrates how international partnerships can deliver real results for communities that need them most. While global headlines often focus on tensions between nations, Ghana and China are quietly building futures together, one school and one market at a time.

When completed, the university will become a major educational hub for the entire Savannah Region, contributing to Ghana's commitment to expand tertiary education nationwide.