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SDD-UBIDS holds maiden graduation ceremony at Wa
The Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) at Wa in the Upper West Region on Friday, held its maiden graduation ceremony for 1,176 diploma, graduate and postgraduate students.
Addressing the congregation, the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Philip Duku Osei charged the graduands to show proof of their higher learning to the outside world by translating the knowledge they had acquired into tangible products for consumption by society.
The Vice-Chancellor maintained that northern Ghana and the country by extension was bedevilled with varied developmental and economic challenges that required maximum thinking and innovation by graduates and people in the academia to turn the fortunes around.
“Proving your higher learning will be reckoned in your ability to translate knowledge into tangible products, peace and security for the population and your ability to work in the trenches of conflict to bring peace and development to our rural and urban population”, he said.
He cited for instance that democracy in Africa was still in infancy, given the numerous conflicts around election and succession processes and other forms of insecurity and said it beckoned on nations in Africa to broaden their human resource base to be able to counter the challenges.
“All these are a reflection that democratic consolidation in Africa is a project that is still in its infancy and can be better handled through affordable and adequate development of human capital and we are hoping the university will firmly position itself to create solutions to the myriad of developmental problems, especially in the northern part of Ghana”, he expressed.
Prof. Osei who announced the approval of a school of Law at the university commended the graduands and invited them and others to explore their new programmes for further training.
Deputy Minister for Education in charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Mrs Gifty Tum-Ampofo encouraged the graduands to create a pool of knowledge that would support the business community of the country with contract-winning proposals and ideas.
“Go out there and prove to the world that you are deserving of the degrees you have been awarded, create room for excellence and avoid mediocrity; use your knowledge to identify problems and set up consultancies to enhance capacities of people in business”, he said.
She stressed that government would continue to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the face of recent economic constraints to ensure businesses thrive and also boost investor confidence.
She used the opportunity to encourage universities to form healthy relationships with TVET institutions to ensure that they worked collaboratively to promote the development of the nation.
Ms Vivian Larbi and Mr Philemon Nandongee were presented with a laptop and cash awards for emerging best female and male graduating students respectively.
FROM LYDIA DARLINGTON FORDJOUR, WA
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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.
