The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson has inaugurated a 13-member implementation committee for the university’s teaching hospital.

The Committee is chaired by Prof. Peter Donkor, a consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Ghana, He is also the President of the West African College of Surgeons.

Other members are, Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Pro-Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. Christian Agyare-Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah-CEO Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr. Osei Kwaku Wusu-Ansah-Director KNUST Hospital.

The rest are Prof. Daniel Ansong, Professor Samuel Kofi Teyi Newton, Prof. Samuel Asare-Nkansah, Prof. Veronica Millicent Dzomeku, Mr. Kwame Amponsah Sarfo, Mr. Micah Asare Bediako, Dr. Asafu Adjaye Frimpong, Dr. Felix Obeng Boateng, Dr. Jimmy Nkrumah, as members and Ms. Lucy Diawuo as the secretary.

The committee will propose an operational name for the teaching hospital; examine and adopt best practices and lessons from other facilities, both locally and internationally to guide implementation; provide support and technical oversight for the construction of the teaching hospital project and develop a strategic and human resource plan for the operationalisation of the teaching hospital.

Other obligations are; implement a comprehensive teaching hospital- within the one health framework in the College of Health Sciences; make a proposal for the future use of all university hospital facilities within the implementation of the teaching hospital concept; and submit periodic reports to the Vice-Chancellor.

At the committee’s inauguration, the Vice-Chancellor emphasised the long-standing commitment and support received from esteemed individuals, including the Chancellor and Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II. Professor Rita Dickson was grateful to Asantehene for his role in securing the necessary funding from the President of Ghana, to complete the first phase of the teaching hospital project which commenced 15 years ago but stalled due to financial constraints.

Professor Dickson expressed her confidence in the committee to effectively deliver their responsibilities.

The Chair, Prof. Peter Donkor, thanked the management of the university for reposing confidence in them. He assured the Vice-Chancellor of the team’s commitment to work together to discharge their duties.