President John Dramani Mahama has named esteemed Obstetrician and Academician, Prof Enyonam Yao Kwawukume, as the new Board Chairman of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS).

The appointment, which was announced during the inauguration of newly constituted Boards of several key health institutions, including the GCPS, Teaching Hospitals, and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), places one of Ghana’s most respected medical figures at the helm of the nation’s premier institution for postgraduate medical education.

Prof Kwawukume brings to the role decades of experience in clinical practice, medical education, and healthcare leadership. He is the Founder and Vice Chancellor of Family Health University and also the Founder of Family Health Hospital, and has held the prestigious K.K. Bensti-Enchill Chair at the University of Ghana’s College of Health Sciences.

Speaking at the inauguration, Prof Kwawukume acknowledged the serious challenges confronting the country’s healthcare system, stressing the need for urgent, coordinated efforts.

“There is evidence that many hospitals across the country face significant challenges,” he said. “As Board Chairman, I am committed, along with my colleagues, to tackling these issues head-on. Having worked with many of these institutions, I am confident in our ability to foster a strong, collaborative approach.”

He expressed optimism about the sector's prospects, pointing to the wealth of experienced professionals within Ghana’s healthcare system.

“What gives me hope is the presence of familiar faces—people I have worked with over the years,” he said. “This creates a foundation for improved collaboration and open dialogue, which will ultimately ease the burden on the Ministry of Health and its leadership.”

Prof Kwawukume emphasised the urgency of action over rhetoric: “There are times when what we need is not more talk, but action —and now is one of those times.”

A trailblazer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prof. Kwawukume is internationally known for performing the world’s first bloodless myomectomy during a Caesarean section using a tourniquet. He is also the co-inventor of the Medical Eligibility Criteria Wheel for Reproductive Health and Family Planning, a tool adopted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and used globally.

His previous roles include Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Korle Bu-based School of Medicine and Dentistry and leadership positions in numerous professional bodies, including past Chair of the West African College of Surgeons (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) and past President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ghana (SOGOG).

In recognition of his global contributions to women’s health, Prof Kwawukume was conferred Honorary Fellowship of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG).