Benjamin Yamoah

Professor Solomon Fiifi Ofori-Acquah, PhD, Dean of the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences (SBAHS), College of Health Sciences, and a prominent sickle cell disease scholar has led a 32-member team of hematologists, pulmonologist, cardiologists, pediatricians, geneticists, ethicists, and basic scientists to secure a U54 Center grant of US$5.5 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA.

Professor Mahmoud Sani, a Professor of Internal Medicine and a renowned Cardiologist at the Department of Medicine, Bayero University Kano  and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital has been appointed as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services)  by The University Governing Council, Bayero University, Kano, following a nomination by the Senate. The appointment is for a two-year term from 2021 to 2023.

Prof Lorna Awo Renner of the Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine and Dentistry has received The First Lady’s Excellence Award for Medicine/Health Care Delivery.
Prof. Renner, was one of the eight women recognized by the First Lady on International Women’s day for excellence in various fields.

Nine African Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE impact) have signed a performance and funding agreement with the Ministry of Education to focus on scaling up postgraduate education in the country.
The centres hosted in five public universities in the country, were also tasked to scale up applied research that was fundamental to economic growth in the region.

Scientists at the University of Ghana have successfully sequenced genomes of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic, obtaining important information about the genetic composition of viral strains in 15 of the confirmed cases in Ghana.

The government is working with partners to ensure that people living with sickle cell diseases (SCD) have access to Hydroxyurea, a more efficient drug for the treatment of the disease in the country through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who announced this in Accra yesterday, said: “We have the opportunity as Ghana to be the first African country to ensure that access to Hydroxyurea and its associated treatment costs are granted through the NHIS to every Ghanaian whose doctors and nurses prescribe this medicine for them.”

Professor Solomon Fiifi Ofori-Acquah, Dean, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, and Centre Leader, West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) has been appointed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), United States (US), as Permanent Member of the Haematology research committee, known as the Molecular and Cellular Hematology Study Section. The appointment is for a six-year term from 2019-2025.

Washington, D.C. – The US Assistant Secretary for Health, ADM Brett P. Giroir, M.D., presented the Assistant Secretary of Health (ASH) Exceptional Service Medal to Dr. Kwaku Ohene-Frempong recognizing him for his outstanding contributions on behalf of the millions of people worldwide suffering from sickle cell disease (SCD). The civilian medal is awarded for exceptional achievement to the cause of public health and medicine, and is the highest civilian award from the Public Health Service, which includes all health divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Ohene-Frempong is the first civilian recipient of the ASH Exceptional Service Medal.

The West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC), a new African Centre of Excellence (ACE) in the University of Ghana, has completed a 3-week outreach programme in the Akyem Abuakwa State.  As Chair of the Medical sub-Committee of the Royal Tour commemorating the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Okyenhene, Osageyfo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Professor Solomon Ofori-Acquah, Dean of the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences seized the opportunity to propel WAGMC into the national limelight by launching the Centre’s first community outreach programme as an integral part of the anniversary celebrations.