Education Minister Assures KNUST of GETFund Support for Teaching Hospital Completion

The Minister for Education, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, has assured KNUST that funding has been secured through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to support the completion of the University’s Teaching Hospital, with the facility expected to be ready by the end of 2026.

Mr. Iddrisu gave the assurance when the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Christian Agyare, and members of University Management paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry of Education.

According to the Minister, completing the Teaching Hospital will provide KNUST with an important medical facility to support teaching and learning while also serving people in Kumasi and other parts of the country.

“We expect that by the end of this year, it should be ready so that at least you have some medical facility, which will facilitate teaching and learning and, more importantly, serve the people in that area and other parts of the country.”

The Teaching Hospital is expected to strengthen KNUST’s medical education while supporting healthcare delivery, clinical training and research.

Mr. Iddrisu also urged KNUST to maintain its position as a leading science and technology institution, particularly by preserving its strong focus on engineering and other science-related disciplines.

“KNUST must maintain its College of Engineering.”

He said the University’s reputation for producing highly skilled engineering graduates makes its science and technology focus important to Ghana’s development.

The Minister also raised concerns about the treatment of students by private hostel operators, stressing that accommodation providers must respect students’ welfare and honour their commitments to the University.

He expressed confidence in Professor Agyare’s leadership and said he expected the Vice-Chancellor to make KNUST and its stakeholders proud during his tenure.

Professor Agyare thanked the Ministry for its support, particularly its commitment to completing the Teaching Hospital.

He said KNUST is also repositioning itself to respond to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), while maintaining its traditional strengths in engineering and the sciences.

“When the University was established, the focus was more on engineering and then the other sciences. That is what we want to reinvent ourselves with emerging technologies.”

Professor Agyare said the University has introduced programmes in artificial intelligence and is investing in AI-related research and academic programmes.

He also outlined plans to expand medical education in Kumasi and said continued government support would be important to achieving the University’s objectives.

The engagement formed part of Professor Agyare’s stakeholder engagements with key government institutions following his investiture as Vice-Chancellor.

The Minister’s assurance sets an expected end-of-2026 timeline for the completion of the KNUST Teaching Hospital.