The Inauguration Of Phase 1 Of The University Of Ghana Medical Centre

The Emergency and Diagnostics building at the University of Ghana Teaching Hospital

Phase 1 of University of Ghana Medical Centre has been commissioned by the President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, on Wednesday 4th January 2017, at a well attended ceremony.

In his address, the President cited the influence of his predecessor, the late John E.A. Mills, in initiating the project, and reminded the audience that development is a painstaking process. He noted that the construction of the Medical Training and Simulation Centre wing of the hospital would improve the training of medical personnel, attract the youth and medical professionals to further their study in medicine and allied health sciences, and would help to ameliorate the perennial problem of brain drain.

The President expressed the hope that the incoming President of the Republic of Ghana would give the hospital a teething five-year operational capacity before allowing it to be self-financing.

From left: Professors Aaron Lawson, Ernest Aryeetey, Hon. Alex Segbefia (Minister of Health), H.E. President John D. Mahama, Vice Chancellor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Eli Habakkuk, H.E. Ami Mehl (Israeli Ambassador)

His Excellency extended his appreciation to the University of Ghana Council, the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, the Israeli contractors, the various Ministers of Health, and the workers for working assiduously on the project.

In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Ebenezer Oduro-Owusu expressed his gratitude to Israeli state for the loan facility for the first phase of the project and the Parliament of Ghana for approving same. He noted that the construction of the hospital was a tangible evidence of the university’s world-class status. He, however, outlined some of the challenges present in the project, including delayed parliamentary approval for the financing needed to recruit staff and the funds to start the second phase of the project. He concluded by expressing his gratitude to Prof. Tagoe, Prof. E. Aryeetey, Rev. Prof. S. Ayettey, Prof. A.L. Lawson and the Israeli contractor for their involvement in the project.

Minister of Health, Hon. Alex Segbefia, explains the development of the hospital project.

The Minister of Health, Honourable Alex Segbefia, remarked that the vision to establish the hospital dates back to the pre-independence era.  He added that in recent times no less than four Ministers of Health had been involved in the project, and that the unfinished hospital would compare with any international hospital once completed.  

Prof. E. Aryeetey, in a brief statement, thanked the Ministries of Health and Finance for their support and noted that the hospital would be a landmark in the history of health education in Ghana when it becomes operational.

The Israeli representative of Engineering Development Consultants Ltd., Eli Habakkuk remarked that he was very happy to be involved in the construction of what will arguably be the most modern hospital complex in West Africa, adding that he hoped recruitment of staff and the completion of phase two will follow shortly.

 

 H.E. Ami Mehl, Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, speaks to the audience about the history between Ghana and Israel.

In his address, the Israeli ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Ami Mehl, reminded those present that Israel’s partnership with Ghana and its involvement in its healthcare sector extended as far back as Ghana’s independence, adding that the present project would serve to strengthen the mutually beneficial relationship and draw the two countries closer. He added that the training of Ghanaians who will eventually staff the hospital is being managed by world class professionals at the Sheva Hospital in Israel.

President Mahama on a tour of the facility.

 

 President Mahama and Vice Chancellor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu and other officials in front of the plaque.

 

Members of the University of Ghana Dance Ensemble in a display of traditional dance.

The event was enlivened by the presence of the University of Ghana Dance Ensemble who treated guests to displays of traditional dance.