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Accra College of Medicine holds 8th matriculation
• Dr. Mrs Kate Quartey-Papafio delivering her address
Though required to be intellectually equipped to carry out their duties as medical doctors, the Accra College of Medicine (ACM) has gone a step further to add moral training to the programme.
This, the institution believes, will prepare the medical doctors adequately for the arduous task ahead of them in serving their numerous patients.
The Council Chairman of ACM, Prof Stephen Adei, in his welcome address at the 8th Matriculation of ACM, in Accra, said the College had to produce the best medical students for the country.
He said character was what would carry them to the field, adding that,” You must go and stand out as the best academically and morally trained doctors in the service of humanity.”
The Guest Speaker, Dr Mrs Kate Quartey-Papafio bemoaned the fact that though there were many trends in modern medicine,a lot had not been explored in Ghana.
She mentioned that tele-medicine, though not fully established in Ghana, was one of the modern trends being used around the globe, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic where it was essential for patients, doctors, and pharmacists to collaborate effectively for a common good.
“Modern medicine provides the facility for surgeries to be carried out remotely using laparoscopic devices and tools, such that surgeries could be carried on a patient whose doctor resides on a different continent,” she said.
Dr Quartey-Papafio said there was the need to re-orient the youth of the country to adopt social media to change their focus towards providing the needed values in the medical profession.
She urged the matriculants to be innovative by incorporating the various fields of medicine into one theme and bring about changes in the profession.
The President of ACM, Prof Afua Adjo Jectey Hesse reminded the matriculants that everything they would go through would be a test of their character.
She asked them to build their character on the values of integrity, passion, innovation, excellent leadership, community service and above all heart power which were the attributes the Ghanaian public were looking for in their doctors.
Prof Hesse said character was not optional, it was sacrosanct to the future that God had planned for them and their homes.
“ No matter where you place prayers, character matters. The greatest fraud in life is religion without character,” she said.
Ms Michaelina Maa Afia Aframa Appiah, a matriculant who spoke on behalf of her colleagues, thanked their parents and guardians for the enormous sacrifices they had made,adding that they were grateful for the opportunity granted them to study at the college.
She called on her colleagues not to give up no matter how bumpy the road would become, “because one day, millions of people will commend us for our spirit of perseverance,” she said.
The 22 students who took the Matriculation and ACM Honour Code oaths, were admitted to levels 100, 200 and 500 respectively.
By Raymond Kyekye
News
Minister of Health appeals to Tamale Teaching Hospital striking doctors
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to the striking doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to calll off the suspension and come to the negotiation table.
However, he refused to apologise as demanded by the striking doctors.
The doctors after a meeting yesterday have withdrawn emergency services following the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.
This follows an unannounced visit to the hospital by the Minister on Tuesday.
The Minister made the appeal when addressing the media in Accra on Today, April 24 2025.
According to him, dialogue is the only way out to resolve the issue, adding that he was ready collaborate with them.
“I am prepared for us to come around the table and discuss whatever we need to discuss,” Mr Akandoh said.
“My humble appeal to my wonderful medical doctors and health professionals at Tamale Teaching Hospital is that I am the first person to take care of your interests. Therefore, let’s call off the strike and let’s all regroup and strategise going forward,” he concluded.
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Health Minister donates medical equipment to Tamale Teaching Hospital, pledges commitment to reforms
The Minister for Health Kwabena Miintah Akandoh has reiterated government’s commitment to address long-standing challenges in the health sector, describing the health system as one that requires urgent reform and collective responsibility.
He made these remarks during a donation of some essential medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
The donation included a wide range of equipment such as ECG machines, ICU ventilators, cardiac monitors, anesthesia machines, infant incubators, and essential
Consumables amounting to about 35 items.
Among the items highlighted were
Emergency Health Equipment (EHE) sets, nebulizer sets, and medical-grade towels.
The Health Minister acknowledged the difficult working conditions health professionals continue to endure and emphasized that government efforts alone would not be enough to resolve systemic issues.
He called for unity across the health sector and urged all stakeholders, including medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to work together to ensure that the country’s limited resources are used efficiently.
He noted that the wellbeing of the ordinary Ghanaian should be central to healthcare delivery, cautioning against practices that marginalize the underprivileged due to resource scarcity. According to him, every Ghanaian life is valuable, and the system must reflect that belief in both policy and practice.
Mr.Akandoh stressed that his leadership approach is rooted in humility, collaboration, and respect for all health workers. While acknowledging that change may come with challenges, he maintained that cooperation is key to achieving lasting improvements in the sector.
The Minister pleaded with health professionals in the Tamale Teaching Hospital to call off the strike and regroup to strategize on more effective ways to address their concerns through dialogue and collaboration with relevant authorities.
The donation to the Tamale Teaching Hospital forms part of a broader national initiative to modernize medical infrastructure and enhance service delivery in Ghana’s healthcare.
