A total of 27 newly qualified Doctors of Veterinary Medicine from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi have been inducted into the veterinary profession by the Veterinary Council of Ghana (VCG) at a ceremony marking their transition from academic training to professional practice.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi in collaboration with the Veterinary Council of Ghana (VCG), has held an induction ceremony for 38 newly qualified veterinary surgeons.
The event marked a major milestone for the graduates, who completed the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programme at the KNUST School of Veterinary Medicine.
Addressing the inductees, Professor Raphael Folitse, the Pioneer Dean of the KNUST School of Veterinary Medicine, highlighted the vital connection between animal health and public health. He said that protecting animal health is central to preventing zoonotic diseases those transmitted from animals to humans.
“If any country wants to achieve good health for its people, it must pay attention to veterinary medicine. Animal health should be given due attention because if you do not protect against diseases in animals, there is no way you can have healthy human beings,” Prof. Folitse said.
He described veterinary doctors as gatekeepers responsible for detecting and preventing the spread of animal-borne diseases before they reach human populations.
“Veterinary doctors should perform their duties in such a way that these diseases do not move from animal populations into human populations. In essence, they play a key role in protecting public health,” he added.
Prof. Folitse appealed to government authorities to provide employment opportunities for the newly inducted professionals to prevent brain drain.
“Many of their seniors have migrated to the UK, Australia, and some are now heading to Saudi Arabia. This can be organized in such a way that the government can benefit from their expertise,” he said.
Delivering the valedictory address, Dr. Loretta Aminarh, expressed gratitude for the rigorous academic journey that shaped their professional growth. She reminded her colleagues that their new title comes with deep moral and ethical responsibility.
“From the day we wore our white coats to the moment we picked up our stethoscopes; every challenge shaped us into who we are today.
Today, as we take our oath, we are not merely receiving a title; we are accepting a duty to protect the voiceless, to heal without discrimination, and to serve humanity through the health of animals,” she said.
She urged her peers to uphold humility and compassion in their work.
“The animals we treat may never say thank you, but their healing and the smiles on their owners’ faces will be our greatest reward. Let our hands bring healing, our knowledge bring solutions, and our hearts bring hope not only to the animals but also to the communities that depend on them,” she said.
Dr. Sherry Johnson, Chairperson of the Veterinary Council of Ghana, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in veterinary practice.
She said the Council continues to implement professional development programmes to keep practitioners abreast of modern trends in veterinary medicine.
“The mandate of the Veterinary Council is to ensure that we uphold the highest standards in veterinary medicine and practice. We are promoting continuous professional development to ensure practitioners remain abreast of current trends, and we have set up standard operating procedures across many spheres of veterinary medicine,” she said.
