A delegation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has visited the School of Public Health at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi as part of efforts to strengthen ties with public health training and research institutions in Ghana.
The visit Includes engagements with the the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), and various laboratories on campus.
The delegation's mission was to better understand local capabilities in surveillance, outbreak investigation, and public health workforce development areas that align closely with the CDC’s strategic priorities in the region.
The visit also served as an informal exploratory step toward future collaboration, with a focus on identifying opportunities for technical support and capacity building.
Professor Peter Agyei-Baffour, Dean of the School of Public Health, welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of the school’s academic programs, research output, international partnerships, and ongoing public health initiatives.
Dr. Danielle Barradas, CDC Ghana Country Director, emphasized the importance of understanding the local training landscape.
“My understanding of the public health system here is incomplete without knowing the training that’s available,” she said. “I’m very interested in learning more about your training in emergency preparedness, data science, and health information management.”
She expressed enthusiasm about KNUST’s strong ties with the Ghana Health Service and Ministry of Health and praised the school’s contribution to scientific publications and public health dissemination.
Dr. Barradas also outlined the CDC’s primary programs in Ghana, which include disease surveillance, outbreak response, and laboratory system strengthening.
Dr. Dawn Broussard, CDC Deputy Country Director, highlighted available technical assistance and funding mechanisms, and discussed how institutions can engage with CDC-supported projects.
Professor Emmanuel Nakua, Vice Dean and Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics presented a detailed account of departmental research activities, achievements, challenges, and global collaborations.
Heads of other departments also shared insights into their respective units’ focus areas and contributions to public health training.
Other attendees included Dr. Bernard Nkrumah, Dr. Michael Owusu, Dr. Kofi Akohene Mensah, Dr. Peter Dwum, Mrs. Ernestina Quarshie, Dr. Edward Tieru Dassah, and Dr. (Mrs.) Rose Odotei Adjei.
