Accra: President John Dramani has inaugurated a committee to oversee the transfer of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), which is currently under the Health Ministry, to the University of Ghana. This initiative fulfills the President's campaign promise from the 2024 general election.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Transitional Management Committee is co-chaired by Professor Aaron Lawson, a former provost of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana, and Professor Mutawakilu Iddrisu, a Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital neurological specialist. The funding for UGMC's construction was secured during the late President Professor John Evans Atta Mills' tenure, with its phase one completion under President Mahama. Phase Two was completed during President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's term.
President Mahama emphasized the vision of fully integrating UGMC into the University of Ghana's governance and operational structures. He stated that this strategic alignment aims to enhance synergy between clinical service delivery, teaching, and research, thereby improving institutional efficiency through harmonized leadership and resource management. This integration is expected to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among medical professionals, researchers, and academics, ultimately creating a world-class teaching hospital serving Ghana and the wider West African subregion.
The committee has been entrusted with eight key responsibilities, including reviewing legal mandates, operational structures, and academic frameworks of UGMC and the University of Ghana Medical School. It will also develop integration guidelines, design a practical roadmap with clear timelines, and facilitate legal and administrative processes for the seamless transfer. Additionally, the committee will identify potential challenges, particularly in funding, staffing, and resource allocation, and propose sustainable solutions.
A transition secretariat will be established to provide operational and logistical support, and the committee will review expressions of interest for partnerships by international health care institutions. A comprehensive report is to be submitted to the President within three months from the date of inauguration.
President Mahama urged the committee to work with urgency and a sense of historic responsibility, highlighting that they are laying the foundation for a legacy of healthcare and medical education excellence. He envisioned Ghana as a hub for medical innovation, ethical practice, and world-class health outcomes.
Professor Aaron Lawson, co-chair of the committee, expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity and assured him of their commitment to the task. Madam Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, Chairperson of the University of Ghana Council, stated that the change would integrate UGMC into the University's framework for training health professionals, advancing clinical research, and shaping national health policy with support from the Health Minister.
Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, thanked President Mahama for fulfilling his campaign promise and acknowledged the responsibility placed on the University, emphasizing their commitment to the task.
