Tamale Technical University (TaTU) has taken a major step toward positioning Northern Ghana as a centre for sustainable manufacturing and green innovation with the launch of an International Joint Master’s Programme in Circular Design and Recycling Technologies Integrating Sustainable Energies (CDRISE).
The programme, launched on Monday at the John Atta Mills Auditorium, forms part of a broader push to align higher education with Ghana’s industrialisation and climate resilience agenda.
The Minister for Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, who officially launched the programme, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening postgraduate education and building the human capital required for Ghana’s transition to a green and inclusive economy. He assured stakeholders of sustained policy and institutional backing to guarantee the programme’s long-term impact.
As part of this support, TaTU has been named a beneficiary of President John Dramani Mahama’s GH¢10 million distress intervention seed fund for universities, to be accessed through the GetFund.
At the heart of the initiative is a partnership with the University of Rostock in Germany and support from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) under the CER-SET Project (Sustainable Energy Transition in Ceramic Production and Recycling). The project promotes energy-efficient ceramic production through renewable energy integration, modern technology adoption, and capacity building.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ali Adolf John, described the initiative as a strategic breakthrough for the region’s industrial future. According to him, the programme directly addresses critical challenges, including climate change, waste management, energy constraints, and limited industrial capacity in Northern Ghana.
He noted that the establishment of a ceramic studio at TaTU will help modernise traditional production systems while integrating sustainable energy solutions, a move expected to strengthen local manufacturing and create competitive advantages in construction, agro-processing, and related industries.
Beyond academic training, the CDRISE programme is designed to drive applied research tailored to local needs, including sustainable construction materials, agricultural waste recycling, renewable energy systems, and efficient waste management technologies.
The Regional Minister emphasised that such innovation-focused education has the potential to transform the Northern Region from a largely raw-material-based into a value-added, technology-driven economy.
Graduates of the programme are expected to emerge with specialised expertise across the circular economy value chain from product design and recycling systems to renewable energy services and sustainable manufacturing enterprises, positioning them as job creators in emerging green industries.
Stakeholders at the launch underscored the importance of strong collaboration between government, academia, industry, and international partners to ensure the programme delivers measurable economic and environmental benefits.
With the introduction of CDRISE and the complementary CER-SET Project, Tamale Technical University is now set to play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable industrialisation, green job creation, and climate-responsive innovation in Northern Ghana.
Faustina N.A. Johnson, ISD
