Professor Margaret Lartey, Dean, SMD
The School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences has launched activities to mark the 10th Anniversary of the introduction of the Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP) under the theme: “GEMP@10, A Great Opportunity for All”.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Margaret Lartey, Dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD) noted that the GEMP was introduced to provide an alternative pathway to the regular MBChB programme. She added that programme has so far graduated 329 medical doctors with 270 students currently at various stages of their training.
Professor Lartey revealed that the SMD was the third institution to run this medical programme in Africa with the other schools in South Africa and Ethiopia respectively. Reverend Professor Patrick F. Ayeh-Kumi, Provost, College of Health Sciences who was represented by Mr. Michael Opare Atuah, College Secretary described the GEMP as one of the most sought after academic programmes in the University of Ghana.
He noted that the success factor of the GEMP has always been embedded in its very purpose, which is to provide a precious opportunity for graduates with a wide background in sciences to attain medical training. He further added “The GEMP was introduced at time when the regular medical programme already seemed to be a handful, however it was still imperative for the School to expand its medical training to students who otherwise would have been deprived of their dreams”.
According to the Provost, the programme since its inception has put the School of Medicine and Dentistry ahead of its competitors in medical training in Ghana and Africa. Graduates of the programme have also been a testament to the quality of the programme due to the impact they are making in various health facilities in the country and beyond the shores of Ghana.
He concluded by expressing gratitude to the faculty and staff of the School for the continuous support to the programme over the years.
Mr. Michael Opare Atuah, College Secretary
The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Mohammed Adjei Sowah, who launched the anniversary celebrations, congratulated the School of Medicine and Dentistry for demystify the training of medical doctors. He noted that indeed GEMP has been a great opportunity for all students who could not get first time admission to pursue their dreams of becoming medical doctors. He added that Ghana and other nations have benefited immensely from this programme.
Hon. Sowah urged authorities of the School to take stock of the past ten years in order to position themselves to be able to serve the people of Ghana at their utmost best. “There are other public and private medical schools in the country at the moment but as pacesetters, the others look up to you for direction so you have no reason to disappoint us; we trust in your ability to perform”, the Mayor noted.
He concluded by asking the School authorities to continue to identify innovative ways of training medical doctors as well as pragmatic measures to increase enrolment as the nation prepares to receive the first batch of free senior high school graduates. He further assured them of their support in ways possible to make the programme even more successful.
Hon. Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Mayor of Accra
The GEMP@10 Anniversary celebrations which started, June 3, 2019 ended on Sunday, June 9, 2019. Activities planned for the anniversary included blood donation, faculty interaction with students and alumni, football match, public lectures, homecoming awards dinner and thanksgiving service.
A section of invited guests at the launch
