The University of Ghana Medical Centre Ltd. (UGMC) marked its 5th Anniversary with a durbar and award ceremony held under the theme "Five years of working towards the provision of world-class patient care, training, and research."
The anniversary was geared towards celebrating five years since the opening of the Medical Centre and recounting the contributions it has made to healthcare delivery in the country over the period.
The durbar, held at the Medical Centre, was attended by several dignitaries, including the Board Chair of UGMC, Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah; Vice-Chancellor of University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo; CEO of UGMC, Dr. Darius Osei; Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Shlomit Sufa, Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Alhaji Mahama Asei Seini; distinguished traditional rulers, and UGMC Management and Board members as well as staff among others.
In her welcome address as Chairman, the Board Chair of UGMC, Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, welcomed attendees to the anniversary celebrations. He congratulated the staff and management of the Centre for their contributions to the excellent medical services it provided in its five years of existence. Dr. Asamoa-Baah urged the Management and staff to continue the same path going into the future.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, in her remarks at the ceremony, commended UGMC's significant and exceptional contributions to healthcare services, research and training, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prof. Amfo also emphasised the importance of recognising the dedication of both past and present employees to the Centre's success.
"It is very good to note that employees, past and present have played pivotal and unique roles in shaping UGMC into the excellent institution we know it to be today, and I am extremely glad that an award ceremony has been instituted to recognise the efforts of the Centre's staff who have contributed immensely to its progress since its humble beginnings in July 2018. I will urge, though, that we go beyond the staff and also recognise the initiators of this project" she mentioned.
Prof. Amfo expressed gratitude to those who laid the foundation for UGMC's establishment, including former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Rev. Prof. Seth Aryeetey, and former Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Aaron Lawson. She offered a prayer for UGMC's continued success, encouraging the Centre to leverage its partnerships for the benefit of patients, trainees and researchers in the African sub-region and beyond.
In her keynote address, Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Shlomit Sufa, applauded UGMC's achievements and highlighted the strong Ghana-Israel healthcare partnership. She drew attention to the relationship between Israel's healthcare journey and Ghana's aspirations, emphasising Israel's global leadership in healthcare innovation and its relevance to developing nations like Ghana.
H.E. Sufa underscored the importance of international collaborations, particularly the Ghana-Israel partnership in the health sector. She traced UGMC's origins to 2010 when the Israeli government, through Engineering, Development and Construction Ltd. (EDC), committed to developing a top-tier medical facility in Ghana. This collaboration led to significant outcomes, including the training of over 100 Ghanaian medical staff in Israel.
The Chief Executive Officer of UGMC, Dr. Darius Osei, for his part, highlighted the remarkable achievements of UGMC over the past five years, cementing its position as a leader in patient care, training and research. He expressed gratitude to key stakeholders for their immense support and acknowledged the challenges faced by the Centre.
Dr. Osei appealed for contributions to establish the first-ever in-patient Clinical Trials, requiring $5 million in funding. He reiterated that UGMC's success is attributed to the synergy between cutting-edge technology, comprehensive training, dedicated research, and the expertise of clinical and non-clinical staff.
The Deputy Minister for Health, Hon. Alhaji Mahama Asei Seini, who delivered a goodwill message, extended warm congratulations to all those who contributed to the growth of this groundbreaking medical facility. He reiterated the government's commitment to providing accessible and affordable healthcare services to all citizens.
Hon. Seini asserted that quality healthcare is a fundamental right for all and urged continued collaboration and partnership building in creating a healthcare ecosystem that leaves no one behind.
The ceremony included goodwill messages from UGMC clients and vendors. A total of 103 awards were presented to dedicated individuals who significantly contributed to UGMC's success.
The event featured musical performances by the UGMC Mass Choir, Nurse Monica from the Emergency Department of UGMC, and Mrs. Mawuyrami Ocloo & Team from the Music Therapy Department.
The ceremony was attended by UGMC clients, vendors, management and staff, marking a significant milestone in the Centre’s journey of excellence in healthcare, training, and research.
