As part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, a public lecture was held on 29th August 2025 at the Accra City Hotel, under the theme: “Translating Research into Care.”
In her welcome address, the Director of the Department, Dr Amma Benneh Akwasi -Kuma, expressed pride in the institute’s five-decade journey of caring for individuals living with sickle cell disease. She emphasised that the clinic was founded with the profound mission of supporting patients and advancing research, and today stands as a beacon of excellence.
Dr Benneh Akwasi -Kuma highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between research and patient care, stating that research must not end in journals or conference halls but should be translated into action ,enabling early diagnosis, guiding better treatment, and improving lives.
The guest speaker, Professor Ivy Ekem, delivered a comprehensive and enlightening presentation on sickle cell disease (SCD). She explained that sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder, inherited equally from both parents, and cautioned against assigning blame to either parent.
She advised the public to refrain from labelling people as “sicklers”—a term that can stigmatise. She explained that individuals with sickle cell disease have abnormal haemoglobin variants, which compromise their ability to carry oxygen efficiently, leading to various health challenges.
On nutrition and lifestyle, Professor Ekem recommended natural sources of vitamin C—particularly fresh fruits and vegetables—over processed drinks. She advised patients to prioritise wholesome meals, adequate hydration, and avoidance of extreme temperatures, strenuous activities, and infections. She emphasised that nutrition and cognitive well-being should be central in discussions between doctors and patients to promote optimal haemoglobin levels.
Professor Ekem applauded the accomplishments of the Clinical Genetics Unit over its 50 years but stressed the need for continued progress. She called for clinically driven research, rather than grant-driven studies, and urged increased national funding to support relevant and impactful scientific work.
Professor Ekem expressed optimism that by the institute’s 100th anniversary, individuals living with sickle cell disease would be identified through laboratory diagnosis rather than physical features or social status.
As part of its oversight responsibility to ensure a healthy Ghanaian society, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health of the Ninth Parliament, on Wednesday, 3rd September 2025, paid a working visit to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The purpose of the visit was to listen to and assess the operational achievements and challenges of Ghana’s premier tertiary and quaternary health facility, and to propose solutions that would enable the Hospital to provide international-standard, seamless healthcare services.
The Committee, led by the Chairperson, Hon. Nawaane Kurt Mark (MP–Nabdam), and supported by Vice Chair, Hon. Sandaare Ngmenenso Sebastian (MP–Daffiama/Bussie/Issa), and Deputy Ranking Member, Hon. Patrick Boakye-Yiadom (MP–Obuasi East), met with the Central Management of the Hospital. They subsequently toured various clinical areas to assess the state of services, the availability of equipment, and infrastructure needs. Other members of the Committee present included Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah (MP–Akim Oda), Hon. Frank Yeboah (MP–Atwima Nwabiagya North), Hon. Mohammed Sherif Abdul-Khaliq (MP–Nanton), Hon. Emmanuel Kwaku Boam (MP–Pru East), and Hon. Titus Beyuo (MP–Lambussie), who also doubles as the Board Chair of Korle Bu.
Departments and clinical areas toured included the Accident and Emergency Centre, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Surgical Department, the Renal Dialysis Unit at the Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Dr Yakubu Seidu Adam, in his presentation, highlighted some of the challenges and achievements.
The major challenge, he stressed, was the high attrition rate across clinical areas, which he said remains a serious threat to the delivery of efficient, quality, and patient-centred care.
Other challenges he mentioned included issues with the LHIMS system, relatively low tariffs, high input costs leading to under-recovery of costs for most healthcare packages, budget cuts resulting in over-expenditure, delays in the passage of a bill to regularise organ harvesting and transplantation, as well as infrastructure and equipment deficits.
Dr Adam disclosed that the payment of the 13th-month salary for staff poses a serious financial burden on the Hospital, citing relatively low tariffs which result in under-recoveries. He made a passionate appeal to the Committee to ensure that the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders absorb this payment.
Among the major achievements he listed were a reduction in institutional all-cause mortality, an increase in diagnostic service utilisation, higher levels of client satisfaction, improved availability of medicines, 64% of revenue target achieved, and over 95% power availability owing to the installation of a new 2000KVA standby generator.
For his part, the Board Chair of the Hospital and member of the Committee, Prof. Titus Beyuo, reaffirmed the facility’s commitment to changing the narrative in the delivery of top-notch healthcare services. “If we fail Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, then we have failed the nation,” Prof. Beyuo emphasised.
While disclosing the Board’s approval for all staff to enjoy free healthcare services, he also urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage and rather collaborate with the Hospital authorities to improve service delivery.
The Committee Chair and his team noted that although there had been significant improvement, more still needed to be done. They reiterated Parliament’s commitment to ensuring that the necessary support is extended to the Hospital to sustain excellence in healthcare delivery in Ghana.
They also encouraged the Hospital’s Management to explore avenues through which Korle Bu’s highly skilled human resources could support under-privileged health facilities to assist in training professionals to meet the country’s healthcare demands.
Central Management members present included: Dr Frank Owusu-Sekyere, Director of Medical Affairs, and his Deputy, Dr Harry Akoto; Mr Munir Alhassan, Director of Administration; Mrs Aimee Akotey, Acting Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services; Mr Yehuza Jewula, Director of Human Resources; Mr Gideon Gawuga, Acting Director of Finance; Mr Frederick Addo Yobo, Director of General Services, and his Deputy, Mrs Cynthia Gyekye; Mrs Felicity Commey, Deputy Director of Supply Chain; Mr Pius Agbeviadey, Acting Head of PPME Unit; Mr Mustapha Salifu, Head of Public Relations Unit; Mr Nathaniel Coompson, representative of the Director of Pharmacy; and Mr Phanuel Gazie, Executive Assistant to the CEO.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Dr. Yakubu Seidu Adam, has commissioned newly installed digital X-ray machines at the Radiology Department to further enhance diagnostic services and improve patient care.
At the brief ceremony, Dr. Adam underscored the significance of the new machines in meeting the growing demand for advanced diagnostic services. He described the commissioning as a major milestone in the hospital’s modernisation agenda, aimed at boosting efficiency in patient management.
Dr. Matthew Boamah, Head of the Dental Unit, and Dr. Hafisatu Gbadamosi, Head of the Radiology Department, expressed their appreciation to hospital management and partners, Rontgen Imaging, for making the project possible. They assured that the machines will be utilised to their fullest potential for the benefit of patients.
The new equipment will significantly improve the quality and speed of imaging, especially for dental and maxillofacial cases, while minimising patient exposure to radiation. In addition, it will support teaching, research, and specialised care, further strengthening Korle Bu’s position as a leading referral centre in Ghana and the sub-region.
This commissioning forms part of the hospital’s broader commitment to upgrading its infrastructure and delivering world-class healthcare to its patients and clients.
The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to partner with the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to help improve healthcare delivery.
The Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Mrs Justina Nelson, stated that healthcare advocacy and support services form one of the three pillars of MIIF’s operations, with the other two being the expansion of the mining sector and the prudent investment of mining royalties.
She made this known when the Director of Medical Affairs of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Frank Owusu-Sekyere, on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, led members of the Central Management Team to pay a courtesy call on MIIF. The visit was aimed at exploring avenues for partnership, particularly in efforts to strengthen the health sector.
Mrs Nelson emphasised that the most valuable asset of any nation is a healthy population. She, therefore, reiterated MIIF’s commitment to supporting the hospital in bridging its infrastructure gap. Present at the meeting from MIIF were Mr Charles Benoni Okine, Director of Corporate Affairs and External Relations; Ms Rosetta Esi Asmah, Head of Human Resources, Administration, Finance David Awuah-Mensah; among other officials.
Dr Owusu-Sekyere highlighted that Korle Bu specialises in delivering cutting-edge, world-class healthcare services, largely due to its unmatched human resource base. He described the hospital as a beacon for teaching, research, and medical tourism, and a referral centre for complex medical conditions.
He further reiterated the hospital’s readiness to collaborate with MIIF to strengthen the Women in Mining initiative, particularly the Girl-Child-in-School programme, which is scheduled to be rolled out in September this year.
Dr Owusu-Sekyere also stressed that at Korle Bu, the delivery of healthcare is not dependent on the ability to pay. No patient is turned away on the basis of affordability.
The Korle Bu delegation included Dr Frank Owusu-Sekyere, Director of Medical Affairs; Mrs Aimee Akotey, Acting Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services; Mr Munir Alhassan, Director of Administration; Dr Charles Ofei-Palm, Director of Pharmacy; Mr Yahuza Jawula, Director of Human Resources; Mrs Felicity Commey, Deputy Director of Supply Chain; and Mr Mustapha Salifu, Head of Public Relations.
A seven-member Taiwan health delegation has paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive Officer of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to discuss and deepen the long-standing collaboration and partnership between the Hospital, and Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare Taiwan. Also present were representatives from China medical university, Taiyuan Hospital, Xiochuan Hospital.
The high powered delegation comprises; Dr. Huang, Superintendent Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan; Mrs. Huang – Spouse of Dr. Huang; Prof. Lee YC– Faculty, China Medical University; Mrs. Lee – Spouse of Prof. Lee; Dr. Yang Nan-Ping, Superintendent Taoyuan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan; Prof. Peter Chang; Director of international Affairs Xiochuan Hospital Dr. Shih Liang– Director of International Affairs, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan.
The Chief Executive of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Dr.Yakubu Seidu Adam in his welcome remarks expressed appreciation to the Taiwan team for keeping faith to the Bilateral Cooperation between Korle Bu and Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan. He underscored the significance of this partnership especially so when the world has become a global village.
Dr. Adam reiterated that as a quaternary Hospital, it is committed to delivering world class healthcare services, train generational health professionals, and promote medical tourism not only in Ghana but across the West African Sub-Region.
He explained the importance of exploring and strengthening the partnership in areas such as training of Critical care, emergency, and peri-operative nurses and also the exchange and transfer of human resource specialty on organ transplant.
The Taiwan delegation disclosed that in Asia, their facilities are leading in orthopedic procedures, non-invasive surgical procedure, acupuncture practices and learning, and above all has developed a robust medical AI in response to dynamic needs of the healthcare services.
The team mentioned their commitment to sharing their experiences with Korle Bu. They further made a passionate appeal to the Chief Executive to visit Taiwan to gain experience and learn more.
Present to support the CEO to receive the delegation were; Acting Director Nursing and Midwifery Services, Mrs. Aimee Akotey, Head of Department of Physiotherapy Mrs. Sandra Asante, Mr. Misbah Samir Deputy Physiotherapist and Mr. Phanuel Gazie Executive Assistant to CEO.
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiamah, has emphasized that the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is like a family house to every Ghanaian. As such, he encouraged all citizens to take an active interest in supporting the hospital’s efforts to deliver quality, seamless, and world-class healthcare services.
“Nobody knows when he or she may end up at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to receive medical care. Therefore, partnering with the hospital’s management to improve service delivery is very important,” Dr. Asiamah added.
He made these remarks when members of the Central Management Team of the hospital paid a courtesy visit to the Bank of Ghana. The purpose of the visit was to develop strategies to strengthen the existing partnership and explore new pathways for collaboration between Korle Bu, the Bank Hospital, and the Central Bank.
Dr. Asiamah explained that the establishment of the Bank Hospital was aimed at bridging the healthcare gap and reducing the need for Ghanaians to travel abroad for medical treatment. He reaffirmed the Central Bank’s commitment to strengthening the partnership—particularly in the areas of human resource exchange, capacity building, and equipment support.
He also pledged to send a delegation to the hospital to assess the current state and utilization of the Bank’s support.
The Korle Bu delegation expressed appreciation to the Bank for its warm reception and underscored the importance of the partnership in helping improve health outcomes. The team disclosed that approximately seventy percent (70%) of Ghana’s medical professionals are trained at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The hospital also expressed profound gratitude to the Bank for its donation of a One Million Dollar Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) equipment to the facility in April 2023.
Despite existing challenges, the hospital reiterated its resolve to ensure that no Ghanaian is denied access to medical treatment or professional training due to financial constraints.
Mr. Munir Alhassan, Director of Administration, led the delegation on behalf of the CEO. He was accompanied by Dr. Harry Akoto, Acting Director of Medical Affairs; Dr. Charles Ofei Palm, Director of Pharmacy; Mrs. Aimee Akotey, Acting Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services; Mrs. Felicity Commey, Deputy Director of Supply Chain; and Mr. Mustapha Salifu, Head of Public Relations.
