UNIVERSITY OF GHANA COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
The Co-creation of an Institutionalized, College of Health Sciences Mentorship System
On March 27, 2025, the CHS Provost Prof. Alfred E. Yawson launched the first phase of co-creating an institutionalized mentorship system for the college of health sciences (CHS). This collaborative program brought together staff and student representatives from the various schools and institutions under CHS to reflect and discuss the mentorship needs of staff and students in a one-day workshop.

The vision
In line with the University of Ghana's strategic plan 2024-2029, particularly priorities 1 and 3, the CHS recognizes the need for a structured and inclusive mentorship system. A sustainable system that would nurture personal, academic, and professional growth among staff and students, with a focus on gender equity and special needs.

Co-creating an institutionaized mentorship program
This program brought together staff and student representatives to reflect and deliberate on the mentorship needs and solutions using a design thinking strategy. Dr. Dzifa Abra Attah, senior lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry, started the workshop by asking participants to reflect on their own career/student journey and to acknowledge persons who had mentored them within and outside of the university. Participant responses were posted on the "mentor acknowledgment board" (Kai wo mentor). This was followed by a brief presentation on the concept of design thinking and how it linked to the co-creation of an institutionaized mentorship system.
Professor Esther Malm, the guest speaker from Murray State University, gave a presentation on mentorship, sharing best practices being implemented by other universities across the globe. This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Clementine Odei, Head of Unit, UGMS Clinic, who gave an overview of the current state of mentorship at CHS and UG, sharing insights into ill-defined mentoring practices and the need to actualize and develop an institutionalized CHS mentoring system. Prof. Ayeh-Kumi, former Provost of the College of Health Sciences, and Prof. Agyeman- Badu, former Rector of GIMPA, were present to support the workshop activities.

Group discussions
After a career/student journey reflective exercise led by Mr. Seth Mawusie Asafo, participants were divided into five groups to brainstorm on staff/student needs and possible solutions: the clinical. faculty, administration/research, students/alumni, and leadership. The discussion outcomes were presented and discussed in a plenary session.
Next steps & Phase II
The workshop concluded with a discussion led by Isabella Rockson, a research development officer at CHS, on how staff/student representatives could engage the larger CHS community to make input. Phase Two of the co-creation process, scheduled to take place on April 25, 2025, seeks to incorporate input from the larger community, focus on funding opportunities for mentorship, and deliberate on ways technology can be leveraged to streamline some of the initiation and communication processes between mentors and mentees.
Sponsors
The inclusion of persons from different levels and units was great.
- Anonymous participant
The collective inputs of all and the willingness of the rank and file of the College to contribute are a big strength
- Anonymous participant
This workshop was made possible with support from the University of Ghana Conference Grant Scheme, College of Health Science and West Africa Genetic Medicine Center
UNIVERSITY RID
OF GHANA
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
WAGMC