Tutors at health training institutions have been challenged to equip students with entrepreneurial skills that will enable them to identify gaps in Ghana's healthcare system, create innovative solutions and generate employment, rather than depend solely on traditional career pathways.
Addressing the opening of the fourth Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop for tutors from various health institutions, the Health Entrepreneurship Pillar Lead of the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), Prof. Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah, said such an approach would help reshape healthcare delivery while expanding employment opportunities for young professionals.
"Together, we can replace the narrative of unemployment with one of dignified, fulfilling work while advancing universal access to quality healthcare and strengthening our health system," he said.
Prof. Owusu-Ansah said the programme seeks to equip tutors with the knowledge and skills needed to inspire students to identify gaps in the healthcare system and develop innovative, entrepreneurial solutions to address them.
"What we are seeking to do is partner with you so that, together, we can help students apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired over the years. We want to expose them to the many gaps that exist across the health system, from birth to old age, and help them recognize the critical opportunities to develop innovative solutions that can transform healthcare in ways we have never seen before," he said.
He encouraged participants to see themselves as multipliers of knowledge, noting that the training was designed not only to build their capacity but also to enable them to transfer entrepreneurial skills to a wider student population.
"The knowledge and skills we will share are not intended to remain with you alone. You are the conduit through which these opportunities can reach the wider student population," he said.
According to Prof. Owusu-Ansah, the programme aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among healthcare professionals, empowering graduates to create employment opportunities rather than rely solely on traditional jobs.
"What we are introducing is an entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial thinking. We want students to identify opportunities within the health sector and turn them into viable solutions. Rather than leaving graduates to struggle in an increasingly competitive job market, we are giving them opportunities to create meaningful careers for themselves," he said.
Lead Facilitator Dr. Isaac Tweneboah Koduah described the tutors as vital links in the programme's mission to transform healthcare education through entrepreneurship.
"I am a conduit. I'm on a special assignment. Our duty is to ensure that what has been imparted to us is also transferred to you so that you, in turn, can transform your students," he said.
He encouraged participants to inspire students to think beyond conventional healthcare practice.
"When they become nurses or other healthcare professionals, they should think differently from the regular practitioner. They should be innovators and problem-solvers who can identify opportunities and create solutions within the health sector," Dr. Koduah said.
Mrs. Eva Boakye Yiadom, Project Manager of the Africa Health Collaborative, reaffirmed that the programme aligns with the Mastercard Foundation's vision of expanding opportunities for young Africans through entrepreneurship.
"The Mastercard Foundation has a vision of enabling 30 million young Africans to secure dignified and fulfilling work. Through entrepreneurship, we believe that, with your support, we can contribute to achieving that vision," she said.
Mrs. Boakye Yiadom urged participants to see themselves not only as trainers but also as beneficiaries of the entrepreneurial mindset being promoted.
"I don't see you as people who are simply coming to learn and then go and teach. It can also start with you. Through you, and with the support of the Mastercard Foundation, we hope to train more people, transform mindsets, and empower graduates to solve the challenges facing Ghana. Together, we can build a better Ghana," she said.
Story and Photos: Emmanuel Offei
