President Mahama Inaugurates Committee. President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated a Transitional Management Committee to oversee the return of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) to the University of Ghana, a move he described as a return to the original blueprint.
The inauguration ceremony took place on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Jubilee House. It kickstarts the formal process to realign UGMC under the University’s governance, a promise President Mahama made during a campaign visit to the Vice-Chancellor in 2024 and reaffirmed during a post-election courtesy call by the University Management.
Delivering remarks at the inauguration, President Mahama described the event as “a defining moment in the life of our nation’s healthcare and higher education sectors.” He said it marked a strategic phase in Ghana’s transformation agenda, one that is geared towards integrating world-class education, medical research and clinical care for national benefit.
“We inaugurate a committee that will lead us to honour a legacy, celebrate a dream and set a bold and forward-looking institutional realignment that will shape healthcare delivery and medical education in Ghana for generations to come,” he stated.
The President recounted the foundational vision of the UGMC, which was conceived in 1964 as part of the University’s plan to develop a “Medical Village.” He acknowledged the contributions of the late President Prof. John Evans Atta Mills. He highlighted the role of his previous administration in securing funding and beginning construction of the facility in 2013. He also commended former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for continuing with Phase II of the project, describing it as a demonstration of national commitment to progress.
President Mahama stressed the need to fully integrate UGMC into the University’s structure, stating that “this is an administrative action targeted at strategically aligning the operations and management of the facility,” designed to promote synergy between teaching, research and clinical practice.
The Transitional Management Committee, co-chaired by Prof. Aaron Lawson, a former Provost of the College of Health Sciences at UG and Prof. Mutawakilu Iddrisu of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review and drawing up clear integration guidelines, legal frameworks and a practical roadmap within three months.
President Mahama Inaugurates Committee
“You are laying the foundation for a legacy of healthcare and medical education excellence. You are building a bridge between the past and the future,” the President charged the Committee.
In his speech, the President also explained that the return of the facility should be viewed as a nation-building endeavour rather than merely an administrative action. He called for collective effort, urging all stakeholders to approach the process as a national development priority.
President Mahama expressed optimism that with the right vision, strong leadership and committed collaboration, UGMC would evolve into a centre of excellence for medical innovation, ethical healthcare delivery and global partnerships, firmly rooted in Ghanaian soil.
In welcoming the President’s decision, the Chair of the University Council, Madam Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, emphasised the importance of UGMC becoming a hub for collaboration. She noted that the Medical Centre must work closely with other public and private medical facilities across Ghana and beyond.
“Such partnerships will strengthen referral systems and improve continuity of care, while also promoting knowledge sharing, joint research and collective responses to national health priorities. Through these collaborations, UGMC can play a unifying role in building a stronger, more resilient health system in Ghana,” she stated.
She further pledged the University Council’s full support for the transition process. “The Council of the University of Ghana pledges its full support to this transition process. We trust that the distinguished individuals appointed to this team will guide the process with diligence, integrity and a deep appreciation of the Centre’s vital role in the national and regional health landscape,” the Chair of Council reiterated.
On her part, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, in brief remarks, thanked the President for delivering on his promise and assured him of the University’s full support for the Transition Team.
President Mahama Inaugurates Committee
“We recognise that this is an onerous responsibility, but we are committed to working closely with the Ministries of Health and Education and with other institutions, both local and international, as guided by our fourth Strategic Priority: Engagement and Partnerships, to ensure that UGMC becomes the topmost academic medical centre in West and Central Africa,” she stated.
Prof. Amfo further indicated that the return of the facility to the University bodes well for impactful research and the transformative student experience strategic priorities of UG. “UGMC will serve as a critical resource for training our students and supporting the work of researchers, thereby strengthening the University’s capacity to deliver world-class education and contribute meaningfully to national development,” she added.
The Transitional Management Committee is made up of Prof. Yvonne Dei-Adomako, Dean of the University of Ghana Medical School; Dr. Abdul Bassit Aziz Bamba, Acting Legal Counsel of the Legal Affairs Directorate at the University of Ghana; Prof. Yao Kwawukume, Director of Family Life Hospital; Hon. Prof. Titus Beyuo, Member of Parliament for the Lambussie Constituency; Mr. Desmond Kwame Boateng, Chief Director at the Ministry of Health; Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service; Matilda Awiah Azuimah, Head of Legal at the Ministry of Education, serving as Secretary; and Ms. Susan Okan, Senior Assistant Registrar at the University of Ghana, serving as Recorder.
Source: UGMC
About the Author
