Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has highlighted the significance of the university’s partnership with Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in producing professionals in the health sciences who are making a significant impact globally. The collaboration between the two institutions has enabled students to effectively combine theory with practice, and Prof. Dickson emphasized the need to further deepen their collaboration to continuously produce outstanding minds in medicine and health sciences for Ghana and the world.
Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer of KATH, paid a courtesy call on Prof. Dickson to introduce himself as the new head of the hospital. Having assumed the position in December 2022, Prof. Addai-Mensah has been engaging with external stakeholders to seek their support in improving the operations of the hospital.
Prof. Dickson acknowledged the significant increase in student intake, including those in clinical programs, and affirmed that KATH would continue to play a crucial role in the university’s training mandate. She emphasized the university’s commitment to maintaining a strong relationship with KATH in producing world-class healthcare professionals.
While acknowledging that occasional frictions may arise between the two institutions, Prof. Dickson emphasized the importance of dialogue in resolving any differences, enabling both institutions to support each other in fulfilling their respective mandates.
Prof. Addai-Mensah acknowledged the intrinsic link between the teaching hospital and the university, emphasizing the need to deepen their existing collaborations. He expressed regret over intermittent difficulties between the hospital management and the Senior Specialists and Consultants of the School of Medicine and Dentistry, which had affected the delivery of quality specialist services. Prof. Addai-Mensah assured that he had taken steps to resolve these differences and ensure fairness in appointments and allowances for staff, regardless of their affiliation with KNUST or KATH.
He further disclosed that a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed between the two institutions to regulate their relationship and provide a framework for resolving emerging difficulties and differences. Prof. Addai-Mensah highlighted that his management had implemented measures to enhance the hospital’s operations, resulting in improvements in staff attendance, patient numbers, and hospital revenue. He expressed hope for continued support from KNUST and all stakeholders as the hospital strives to improve services to the public.
