The GhGenome project, aimed at educating the public on the importance of genetics in health, wellbeing, and diseases, was launched on Wednesday 24th of August 2022 at the University of Ghana, Great Hall, Legon Campus. During the launch, the director of the project, Prof. Solomon Fiifi Ofori-Acquah gave a public lecture that offered insightful information about the rate of children diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease, childhood cancers, and rare genetic disorders.
GhGenome is focused on four main areas: a nationwide public lecture on the Ghanaian Genome, an in-country free screening of genetic diseases specifically for sickle cell conditions, breast and prostate cancers, a postgraduate genetics training programme including – the first-of-a-kind, Master of Science in Genetic Counselling training programme which has already begun; and the sequencing of the DNA of 1000 Ghanaian children with severe genetic disorders. The Director of the project, Prof. Solomon Fiifi Ofori-Acquah during the launch said:
“Over 400 children in Ghana are diagnosed with a variety of cancers every year. Most of these cancers have a genetic component which we currently are not able to decode in the country due to the lack of genetic testing facilities in Ghana. It is our duty now to decode the mutations that cause rare genetic diseases in this country.”
The chairperson of the occasion, The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, applauded the GhGenome Executive Committee for developing an engaging programme of activities for the Project Launch and for the regional tour that will follow till the end of the year, starting on Saturday, at the height of the Ga Homowo festival in our nation’s capital city. It will move on to grace the shores of Cape Coast and Anloga, in the Central and Volta regions respectively, continue to Wa and Tamale in the Upper West and Northern regions, and then to Berekum and Kyebi in the Bono and Eastern regions respectively, and finally to Kumasi in the month of December during the Akwasidae festival.
She continued to say that the launch of the landmark genomics project housed by the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC), has an enormous ambition to awaken the consciousness of the average Ghanaian about the importance of genetics in health, wellbeing, and disease. According to Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, “It is indeed our duty as Ghanaians to help decode the DNA that we carry, to better understand our risks of developing many diseases including sickle cell disease, breast cancer and prostate cancer”.
As Vice-Chancellor, she has laid-out a bold vision to reinvigorate all aspect of the University’s activities through six (6) Key Strategic Objectives (KSOs) and the four (4) components of GhGenome fit squarely into her vision for the University of Ghana, as a whole.
Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana
Prof. Solomon Fiifi Ofori-Acquah and his team purposefully engaged traditional leaders in this project because they are the custodians of the Ghanaian heritage, and the Ghanaian DNA is the most basic of all heritage.
Traditional Leaders at the launch of the GhGenome Project
Evidence of this collaboration was seen with Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin being the patron of the project. He was represented by His Majesty the Gyasehene of Okyeman and Kwabenghene, Daasebre Ayimadu Kantomanto, His Majesty the Osu Mantse, Nii Nortey Owuo (IV) and the Korle Gonno Mantse, Nii Tackie Owuowuo (IV) at the Great Hall during the launch.
Other traditional councils from across the country in support of the project include the Oguaa traditional council, Anlo Traditional council, Dagbon Traditional Council, Wala Traditional Council, and the Kumasi Traditional Council.
A group picture of some dignitaries at the launch of the GhGenome Project
Academic and health sector partners supporting the launch include the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast (UCC), University for Development Studies (UDS), the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), the Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana (SCFG) and the Ghana Psychology Council (GPC).
The project launch was followed by the first GhGenome Genetic Health Screening focused on sickle cell disease, breast, and prostate cancers at the height of the Ga Homowo festival in Accra. Prof. Fiifi Ofori-Acquah at the end of his lecture urged everyone to take a pledge by getting screened and encouraged others to get screened.
