President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) is on course to house one of the largest laboratory complexes in West Africa upon the completion of an ongoing laboratory block, describing the project as a major boost to medical education, research, and vaccine development in Ghana.

Speaking during his 'Resetting Ghana Tour' in the Volta Region on Friday, July 17, President Mahama said the laboratory project, which was initiated during his previous administration, is now more than 70 percent complete after construction resumed following his return to office.

"We went and inspected the new laboratory block that is coming up, and I'm pleased to say that we cut the sword for that laboratory block when I was President," he said.

"And again, it had stalled over the period that we left office until we came back to office, and then we got a contractor to go back on site, and I'm happy to say that it's more than 70 percent complete. And when it's completed, UHAS would have the biggest laboratory complex in the whole of West Africa."

According to the President, the facility will significantly improve the university's standing internationally by strengthening its research and practical training capacity.

"And it's going to raise UHAS's standards, because when they look at universities, and they rank them, they look at your laboratories for research and learning," he stated.

President Mahama explained that the complex will feature a state-of-the-art simulation centre to provide hands-on clinical training for students before they begin working with real patients.

"It's going to have a simulation center, so the students are going to be able to simulate, you know, doing operations on people. The nurses are going to be able to simulate how to look after their patients and all that."

"It's going to have a first-class simulation center, and then it's going to have a huge pathology lab with a mortuary. And so after they have done the simulation, they will now go to the real lab, and there they'll be physically there for them, you know, to do their pathology and practicals and all."

The President also revealed that the university is collaborating with the National Vaccine Institute to establish a specialised pathogen research laboratory within the complex, a development he said would strengthen Ghana's capacity to respond to infectious diseases and support local vaccine production.

"But most interestingly, they are in contact with the National Vaccine Institute, and one of the laboratories is going to be a laboratory for pathogen research."

"The only laboratory we have for pathogen research in this country is the Noguchi Memorial, and that means that they're going to be able to research pathogens, and they're going to work with the National Vaccine Institute to be able to produce vaccinations right here at home."