The University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo (UTAS), is poised to establish the first medical school in the Upper East Region, a move expected to significantly transform healthcare delivery and medical education in northern Ghana.
The Vice-Chancellor of UTAS, Professor Albert Luguterah, made the announcement at the University’s 6th Congregation Ceremony held on Saturday, December 20, describing the development as a historic milestone achieved through sustained stakeholder engagement.
“It gives me great joy to announce this most welcome development,” Professor Luguterah said. “Building on the Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year between UTAS, the Ghana Health Service and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, our consultants and their dedicated teams, with strong support from key stakeholders including the Regional Minister and Members of Parliament, have made remarkable progress. We now stand at the threshold of history with the establishment of a medical school in the Upper East Region.”
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the proposed medical school is envisioned as more than an academic institution. He explained that it is a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, training locally based medical professionals, reducing regional disparities in access to healthcare, and stimulating socio-economic development across northern Ghana and the country as a whole.
Professor Luguterah, however, stressed that the successful realization of the project would require broad-based support and collaboration. He therefore appealed to government, Parliament, development partners and the private sector to contribute towards the timely implementation of the initiative.
“For this vision to become a reality, we need more support,” he noted. “Every day of delay is another day our communities remain underserved. Every step we take together brings us closer to a healthier, fairer and stronger Ghana.”
The Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, used the occasion to address Parliament’s recent decision to reverse the renaming of UTAS and other public universities.
“Just yesterday, Parliament reversed the renaming of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, along with other universities across the country,” Dr. Apaak disclosed. “This decision followed extensive consultations with the academic community, traditional authorities, alumni associations, students and civil society organizations.”
He explained that the move was intended to reaffirm academic freedom and protect the constitutional identity of public universities, particularly those renamed after partisan political figures.
“This decision is not about erasing history, but about depoliticising our academic institutions,” Dr. Apaak emphasized.
He further reaffirmed his commitment, both as a Member of Parliament from the region and as a key contributor to the legislative process that established UTAS, to fostering unity within the University to enhance effective teaching and learning.
A total of 710 students graduated at the ceremony, comprising 177 postgraduate and 533 undergraduate students from various academic disciplines.
Source: Bluewaves Radio 93.7mhz | Maurice Duncan
