Regentropfen University College in the Upper East Region has announced plans to establish a medical programme supported by a hospital within the next five to ten years as part of efforts to expand its academic offerings and improve access to professional education in Northern Ghana.
The Founder and President of the institution, Rev. Fr. Dr Moses Asaah Awinongya, said the proposed medical programme formed part of the university’s long-term development plans, which also include expanding postgraduate education, strengthening research and securing a charter to operate as an autonomous university.
Speaking as Regentropfen University College marked its 10th anniversary, he said the institution intended to deepen partnerships with industry and international organisations to support its growth over the next decade.
The proposed medical programme and hospital, however, remain at the planning stage and will require further development and the necessary regulatory approvals before they can become operational.
Rev. Fr. Dr Awinongya said the university was established to address the difficulties young people in rural communities face in accessing higher education, particularly the financial and geographical barriers associated with studying outside the Upper East Region.
“Before the advent of Regentropfen University College, I used to describe Bongo District and the Upper East Region at large as an educational desert,” he said.
He explained that before the institution was established, many young people from the area had to travel to other parts of Ghana, particularly the south, to pursue higher education.
According to him, students from rural communities such as Namoo deserve access to educational opportunities comparable to those available to students in major cities.
Reflecting on the institution’s development over the past decade, Rev. Fr. Dr Awinongya disclosed that Regentropfen initially received accreditation to offer 10 academic programmes, comprising five diploma and five bachelor’s degree programmes.
The institution has since expanded to five diploma programmes, 10 undergraduate degree programmes and three postgraduate programmes.
He said additional academic programmes had been submitted to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for accreditation as part of efforts to broaden the institution’s academic offerings.
Despite the progress, Rev. Fr. Dr Awinongya acknowledged that establishing and sustaining a university college in a rural community had presented several challenges.
He identified inadequate accommodation for staff and students, poor road access, limited infrastructure and low enrolment during the institution’s early years as some of the difficulties it had faced.
He said support from the University for Development Studies and other institutional partners had been instrumental in helping Regentropfen navigate those challenges.
Looking ahead, the President said the university would continue to prioritise accessible education while investing in postgraduate training, research and partnerships that could support its academic development.
He also reiterated the institution’s ambition to secure a charter, which would enable it to operate as an autonomous university, subject to meeting the relevant regulatory requirements.
Rev. Fr. Dr Awinongya appealed to individuals, organisations and development partners to support the institution’s expansion plans, particularly projects aimed at improving infrastructure and increasing educational opportunities for students from underserved communities.
Regentropfen University College is celebrating its 10th anniversary under the theme, “From Vision to Reality: A Decade of Promoting Talents and Shaping Future Minds.”
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