The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has inaugurated a KNUST–Ministry of Health steering committee for health training institutions to strengthen collaboration in training high-quality health professionals equipped with 21st-century skills for effective healthcare delivery in Ghana.
The committee will guide the implementation of initiatives aimed at improving the training of health personnel and ensuring that graduates are industry-ready to meet the growing demands of the country’s healthcare system.
Members of the committee include Mr. Desmond Boateng, Chief Director at the Ministry of Health; Professor Mrs. Veronica Dzomeku, Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at KNUST; Mr. Tony Goodman, Acting Head of the Health Training Institutions (HTI) Unit; Professor James Oppong Kyekyeku, Examination Officer for Health Sciences; Mrs. Jemima Fati Ackon; and Mrs. Oluwakemi Abisola Titiloye, Deputy Registrar at the Affiliations Office, KNUST.
The Provost of the KNUST College of Health Sciences, Professor Christian Agyare, recounted the origins of the committee and the partnership that led to its formation.
He said the current Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) differs from the previous arrangement, which covered five years, noting that the new agreement has been extended to a 10-year period to strengthen collaboration and ensure continuity.
Professor Agyare said a review of the earlier MoU, signed at the end of the 2018/2019 academic year, revealed some gaps, prompting the establishment of a joint committee comprising members from both institutions to address the issues and oversee implementation of the agreement.
He added that the committee has played a key role in ensuring that the objectives of the agreement are achieved and that its reconstitution will help sustain and strengthen implementation of the partnership.
“Over the past four years, the committee has been working effectively, ensuring that activities align with the key provisions and guiding principles of the MoU,” he said.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Asamoah, expressed appreciation to the members for accepting the responsibility to serve on the committee and for their dedication to strengthening health training in the country.
He commended their efforts in supporting the University’s mission to produce world-class health professionals capable of meeting industry demands and improving healthcare delivery.
Chairman of the committee, Mr. Desmond Boateng, Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the committee and acknowledged the support of members in executing its mandate.
He stressed the importance of training a new generation of health professionals committed to transforming healthcare in Ghana.
“We need to change the attitude of our people, and it has to start with the young ones that we are training by sensitising them for a change,” he said.
Mr. Boateng added that instilling the right values and professional mindset in trainees will not only benefit the health sector but also contribute to national development.
“This will go a long way to benefit the country and the professionals themselves,” he noted.
By: Abena Serwaa Gyamfi Photos: Emmanuel Offei
