The leadership of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), University of Ghana, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Staff at the Jubilee House on July 2, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the College and the Government of Ghana in advancing health professional education, research, and healthcare delivery in the country.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the College to showcase its contributions to national development and discuss strategic areas where government support could further enhance the training of health professionals and the provision of quality healthcare services. The delegation, led by the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Alfred Edwin Yawson, highlighted the pivotal role of the College as Ghana's premier institution for training healthcare professionals. He reaffirmed the College's commitment to supporting national health priorities and assured the Chief of Staff that the College possesses the expertise and institutional capacity to contribute significantly to Ghana's healthcare system. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in disease surveillance, preparedness, and response, including efforts aimed at preventing and mitigating the spread of infectious diseases such as Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
The Provost further highlighted the wealth of specialists and healthcare professionals within the College who remain available to support government in addressing healthcare challenges and responding to medical emergencies whenever the need arises. The discussions also focused on opportunities to strengthen health professional education in Ghana. The College shared some of the operational challenges confronting health training institutions, including student transportation, accommodation, infrastructure, utility costs, and faculty staffing needs.

Prof. Yawson explained that the increasing demand for clinical rotations and practical training has placed significant pressure on the College's transportation system and appealed for support to augment the College's existing fleet of buses to facilitate the movement of students between the Legon and Korle Bu campuses.
In addition, the issue of rising utility costs, particularly electricity expenditure, was also discussed. The Provost outlined the financial implications of the current arrangement and emphasized the need for sustainable solutions that would enable the College to channel more resources into teaching, research, and student development.
Attention was also drawn to the growing need for additional academic staff to support specialist training and expand opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals. The College noted that despite the increasing number of qualified applicants seeking admission into health-related programmes, limitations in infrastructure and faculty numbers continue to constrain enrolment capacity.
Responding to the presentation, the Chief of Staff commended the College of Health Sciences for its outstanding contributions to healthcare education, research, and national development. He acknowledged the strategic importance of the College in producing the skilled workforce required to strengthen Ghana's health sector and expressed appreciation for the institution's continued dedication to excellence.
The Chief of Staff assured the delegation that the concerns raised would receive the necessary attention and indicated that engagements would be pursued with relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Transport, and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), to explore sustainable solutions to the challenges presented.
Discussions further explored broader strategies for strengthening tertiary education financing, expanding infrastructure, and creating additional opportunities for qualified students to pursue health professional training.
At the end of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in advancing health education and healthcare delivery in Ghana.