Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang Saturday lauded the crucial role of accredited private medical schools in boosting Ghana’s healthcare workforce.

She said such institutions were essential in training the much-needed doctors required to serve communities across the country.

Speaking at the Sixth Congregation of the Accra College of Medicine (ACM), which also marked the institution’s 10th Anniversary, the Vice President witnessed the graduation of 23 new doctors, which was ACM’s largest cohort to date.

This year, 13 per cent of the graduating class earned distinctions in at least one clinical discipline.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the direct impact of private medical institutions on healthcare delivery, noting that ACM graduates were serving in hospitals nationwide.

Many of those graduates, she noted, were progressing into specialist postgraduate training, a testament to the strength of their foundational education.

“An army, formed here, now serves across Ghana. This is a credit to the institution and all who have been part of it,” she said.

The Vice President emphasised the expanding role of private medical education in bridging healthcare gaps and urged the new doctors to prioritise service in underserved areas.

“Many of our communities face serious gaps in healthcare access, and those best equipped to help must prioritise the duty they have chosen over personal convenience,” she charged the graduates.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang noted the opportunities that colleges like ACM offered to passionate young people who might otherwise be denied entry into public medical schools due to highly competitive cut-off points.

“By identifying and nurturing talent, private institutions complement government efforts to strengthen human resources in the health sector,” she said.

Reflecting on ACM’s decade-long journey, she noted that the college, established in 2015 as a private independent institution, was founded with a clear vision to deliver high-quality, research-driven medical training tailored to Ghana and Africa’s health challenges.

It is affiliated with the University of Ghana and accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission and the Medical and Dental Council.

“The seed planted a decade ago has grown into a living institution where science meets compassion and knowledge is tempered by conscience,” the Veep added.

Professor Afua Hesse, President of ACM, noted that 97 per cent of the college’s alumni were serving in hospitals and health institutions across Ghana.

She highlighted the school’s growth, saying 62 per cent of its student population is female, with investment in cutting-edge educational technologies such as the Anatomage 3D anatomy platform and Cyberpatient virtual simulation software.

Prof Hesse outlined ambitious plans for the next decade, including the launch of a Graduate Entry Medical Programme and expanded scholarship opportunities to make medical education more accessible.

A total of 65 credits were recorded across the three core disciplines of Medicine, Surgery and Community Health, underscoring the high calibre of the new medical practitioners. Ms Malegho Chelsie Jomsentuh was adjudged Valedictorian.