WAGMC Centre Leadership
Professor Solomon Ofori-Acquah
DIRECTOR
Professor Ofori-Acquah was appointed Dean of the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana in January 2017, and Associate Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, USA in 2013. He is the Centre Leader of the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC), and, Director and Principal Investigator of the Sickle Cell Disease Genomics Network of Africa (SickleGenAfrica).
Professor Ofori-Acquah’s research is focused on pathogenesis, genomics and innovative therapy in SCD. He established the first mouse model of the Acute Chest Syndrome. His research has continuously been funded by the NIH and other funding agencies since 2004. He is an Expert NIH Reviewer with service on multiple committees focused on Respiratory Biology, Hematology and Genomics. In 2016 he received an Appreciation Award as Founder of the Ghana Biomedical Convention. As Centre Leader of WAGMC, he is spearheading efforts to train the first cohort of postgraduate genetic counsellors and medical genetics scientists in West Africa reflecting his continued efforts to promote all aspects of biomedical science in the region.
Dr. Amma Benneh-Akwasi Kuma
DEPUTY DIRECTOR - ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (ASA)
Dr Amma is a Consultant Haematologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Haematology, University of Ghana Medical School where she is also the current Head of Department. She also has oversight of the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics ( Adult Sickle Cell Clinic) She is a graduate of University of Ghana Medical School and is a fellow of the West African College of Physicians and Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. She has over twenty years of experience working as haematologist under her belt. As a Haematologist her work involves diagnosing and managing patients with benign and malignant blood disorders and is passionate about enhancing the quality of life of people living with these disorders. Her special interests include Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia, Sickle Cell Disease and Haemophilia.
She has collaborated and undertaken various research projects and clinical trials with researchers from both local and international institutions, one of such being the Center for Translational and International Haematology, University of Pittsburgh. SickleGen Africa and SPARCO are some of the research projects she is currently involved in.Public health education is her passion as she believes in the adage that prevention is better than cure. She also subscribes to the fact that the wealth of a nation depends on the health of its citizens.  She has thus taken part in several programs and collaborated with various organizations such as Ghana Society of Haematology, Ghana Haemophilia Society, International Chronic Myeloid Foundation and WAGMC to educate, advocate and screen the populace nationwide and beyond to prevent and detect early haematological and non-haematological diseases.  She was the lead for General Medicine and Haematology for the Okyenhene’s Medical Caravan which the centre successfully undertook in 2019 and has subsequently played an active role in the centre’s outreach programs.
Dr. Lily Paemka
DEPUTY DIRECTOR - RESEARCH AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (RE)
Dr Lily Paemka is a molecular geneticist and senior lecturer at the Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Dept, University of Ghana. For her doctoral studies at the University of Iowa, she characterized genes implicated in autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy. As a postdoctoral fellow, she elucidated the effect of loss of the CFTR gene on myeloid and epithelial cells in cystic fibrosis pathogenesis at the University of Iowa. This was followed by a postdoctoral stint in cancer genetics where she was involved in elucidating the role of the tumor suppressor TFAP2A gene in regulating cancer response to anticancer treatment.
Dr Paemka is currently a Principal Investigator in Ghana, where her research entails characterizing genetic and pathogenic breast cancer risk factors, epigenetics of Prostate cancer and cytogenetics and genetics of multiple myeloma in Ghanaians. As a geneticist, Dr Paemka primarily interested in human genetic traits and diseases, particularly in describing genetic variations and elucidating pathways involved in cancers in Africans. She was a recipient of the DELTAS Africa (developing excellence in leadership, training, and science in Africa programme) fellowship at WACCBIP. She is currently a recipient of the OWSD (Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World) Early Career Fellowship and the founder of the annual Nufu Festival aimed at raising breast cancer awareness among Ghanaians.
Melissa Nuno
CENTRE ADMINISTRATOR
Melissa Nuno is the WAGMC Administrator/ Project Manager. She has a degree in Psychology from the University of Ghana. She continued on to pursue a Master’s degree in Human development (Psychology) at the Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada. Melissa also holds a certificate in business Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Her work experience ranges from working with children with developmental disabilities, customer service and education administration.
