China Grants Ghana $30M to Build Damongo University

Students in Ghana's Savannah Region will soon have a university right in their backyard, thanks to a $30 million grant from China that will fully fund construction of a new campus in Damongo.

The agreement was signed this week between Ghana's Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and outgoing Chinese Ambassador H.E. Tong Defa. It's the second major infrastructure grant the two countries finalized during the Ambassador's tenure, following funding for a multipurpose market in Aflao.

The timing couldn't be better for the Savannah Region. Currently, students who want to pursue higher education must travel to other parts of Ghana, creating financial barriers for families and limiting access to degrees that could transform local communities.

Dr. Forson highlighted how the partnership between Ghana and China continues to deliver concrete results, dating back to the friendship between President Kwame Nkrumah and Chairman Mao. He also proposed deepening economic ties by allowing direct trade in Ghanaian cedis and Chinese RMB, reducing costly currency exchange losses.

Ambassador Tong expressed pride in seeing tangible development outcomes achieved during his time in Ghana. He congratulated Ghana on its improving economic performance and called the university project proof that sustained cooperation creates real benefits for people's lives.

The Ripple Effect

This university will do more than just educate students. It's expected to create jobs during construction and operation, attract businesses to the region, and keep talented young people close to home where they can contribute to local growth.

The investment signals a broader commitment to regional equity in Ghana. Too often, development concentrates in major cities while rural areas wait. Projects like this flip that script, bringing world-class educational opportunities to communities that have been overlooked.

For families in Damongo and surrounding areas, the message is clear: your children's futures matter, and higher education is coming home.