KNUST college of health sciences targets $10M for infrastructure and research boost
The College of Health Sciences (CHS) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is set to launch a $10 million Endowment Fund on October 30, 2024.
This initiative aims to raise the full amount over the next five years to enhance the college’s infrastructure, advance research capabilities, and support increased enrollment.
The fund is a strategic effort to strengthen the institution’s capacity and impact in the field of health sciences.
The $10 million Endowment Fund will play a crucial role in enhancing the College of Health Sciences’ (CHS) capabilities.
It is designed to support the training of skilled health professionals, fund critical research into local diseases, and provide scholarships for both graduate and undergraduate students.
The fund will also facilitate the acquisition of essential medical equipment and create opportunities to retain health science graduates, addressing key challenges in the country’s healthcare sector.
During a media briefing on September 11, 2024, in Accra, Professor Daniel Ansong, Chairman of the Endowment Fund Board, spoke on behalf of Prof. Christian Agyare, Provost of the College.
Professor Ansong emphasized the increasing number of qualified applicants each year, noting that limited infrastructure has resulted in only a small fraction being admitted.
The Endowment Fund aims to overcome these limitations and support the college’s mission to advance healthcare education and research.
Professor Ansong highlighted that many prospective students either accepted offers from other institutions or left the country after failing to secure spots in their preferred programs at the College of Health Sciences.
He further explained that the College admits a smaller percentage of qualified applicants compared to other KNUST colleges, mainly due to inadequate facilities required for training healthcare professionals.
Regulatory bodies such as the Medical and Dental Council, Pharmacy Council, and Allied Health Councils also impose admission quotas based on available infrastructure.
He pointed out that the completion of the Boadi Medical Village led to a significant increase in student intake, from 2,907 in 2019 to 4,338 in 2020, illustrating how infrastructure expansion can enhance admissions.
Despite this progress, Professor Ansong noted that insufficient laboratory facilities, particularly in basic sciences, still constrain the College’s ability to train more students effectively.
Professor Ansong warned that failing to address these infrastructure gaps could result in healthcare education becoming accessible only to the wealthy, marginalizing many qualified but financially disadvantaged students.
This situation could have long-term detrimental effects on the country’s ability to deliver quality healthcare.
“We are calling on all stakeholders—corporate Ghana, alumni, and parents—to support the Endowment Fund to ensure we can train more healthcare professionals,” he stated.
Co-chair of the Advisory Board for the Endowment Fund, Maxwell Opoku Agyemang assured stakeholders that the fund will be managed with the utmost accountability and transparency.
He also emphasized the importance of media support in raising awareness about this initiative.
The College of Health Sciences (CHS) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) comprises seven key schools and faculties, including the School of Medical Sciences, the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the School of Nursing and Midwifery. It also hosts prominent research centers such as the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine.
The Advisory Board is comprised of distinguished members including co-chair Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, Special Advisor on Health at the Office of the President; Dr. Jemima Dennis-Antwi, Founding President and CEO of the Centre for Health Development and Research; Dr. Paul Sekyere Nyantakyi, CEO of MDS-Lancet; Ernest Bediako Sampong, CEO of Ernest Chemist Ltd; Dr. Samuel Amo Tobbin, CEO of Entrance Pharmaceuticals; and Mr. Kofi Nsiah-Poku, CEO of Kinapharma Pharmaceutical Ltd. These leaders bring extensive expertise and commitment to ensuring the success of the Endowment Fund.