The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), and the African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth) are exploring opportunities to expand their collaboration beyond health sciences to include interdisciplinary research, education and institutional capacity development across Africa.

The discussions took place during a courtesy visit by a delegation from AFREhealth, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Georgina Yeboah, to the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Christian Agyare, to welcome him to office and discuss areas of mutual interest.

Mrs. Yeboah said AFREhealth was seeking to engage the wider University in its work,

drawing on expertise from different disciplines to address health challenges and strengthen collaboration among African institutions.

She explained that the organisation brings together individual professionals and institutions to improve health outcomes across the continent through interprofessional collaboration.

“We believe that if you work in silos, there is no way we can improve the health of the people on the continent,” she said.

Mrs. Yeboah noted that the organisation’s work, including initiatives on artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning, required expertise beyond the health sciences, creating opportunities for engineers and other specialists to contribute.

She also expressed interest in connecting KNUST with other African universities affiliated with AFREhealth, particularly newer institutions that could benefit from mentorship and knowledge exchange with more established universities.

Professor Christian Agyare welcomed the proposed collaboration and identified the University’s Office of Grants and Research as a suitable point of contact for coordinating engagements across relevant departments and disciplines.

The Vice-Chancellor also emphasised the importance of partnerships that promote shared learning and strengthen institutional capacity across Africa.

“I think it’s more in the spirit of what we now call a South-South collaboration,” he said.

Professor Agyare further recommended engagement with the Provost of the College of Health Sciences to identify priority areas for cooperation and facilitate the involvement of other academic units where appropriate.

Story: Belinda Opoku Danso    Photos: Isaac Kwaku Duah