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Dr Anabah, agent of change in the health sector
Dr Thomas Winsum Anabah is a professional medical doctor whose specialties include critical care, emergency medicine and anaesthesiology. He is among the few medical doctors with such specialties.
He is experienced in Health Management with practical approach to problem solving and has a knack for “see things through” to a successful completion.
Challenges in his early years could not kill his vision of becoming a health practitioner and he has over the years continued to contribute effectively to providing quality service in the health sector.
The Spectator caught up with him recently to delve into his professional and personal life.
Background
Dr Anabah hails from a town called Garu, in the Worikambo Electoral Area in the Upper East Region.
The talented medical doctor has six siblings, from the late Joseph Anabah and Mrs Veronica Anabah.
Dr Anabah speaks English, Spanish, Italian, Kusaal, Hausa and Twi and is married with two children.
Education
Having an indefatigable father who occupied portfolios of a teacher and politician, Dr Anabah had his primary school education in a haphazard manner.
He went to Nalerigu Primary School and later attended Worikambo Primary School and later moved to Bawku Primary School which is also known as Wenamzua Primary School from where he later moved again to Worikambo to attend middle school.
Dr Anabah’s middle school education was not a “straight” one as he moved back and forth from Worikambo and Winanzua middle schools and later proceeded to Bawku Secondary School until he got a scholarship in 1988 to study in Cuba.
From 1988 to 1992, Dr Anabah obtained a Junior High School Diploma from the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial School at Isle of Youth in Cuba, where he was the Senior Prefect and continued his High School education at the Andrei Grechko Senior High School, also at the Isle of Youth, Cuba from 1992 to 1993.
While in the High School, everybody thought Dr Anabah would read Cybernetics because he was a genius at Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry but he rather pursued his dream of becoming a medical doctor.
Attaining a higher feat and making his dream come true, Dr Anabah further attended Higher Institute of Medical Sciences at Santa Clara, Cuba where he studied Medicine from 1995 to 2001.
He was one of the best graduates in the entire university and was also the Best Foreign Student, who took awards in sports, culture among others.
Adding to his educational laurels, the never-say-never doctor enrolled at the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences in Havana, Cuba where he did his Specialist Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation from 2003 to 2007.
He again obtained a Masters in Critical Care and Emergencies from La Sapienza, University of Rome in Italy, from 2008 to 2009.
Professional Experiences
Dr Thomas Winsum Anabah rose through the ranks to become a force to reckon with in the medical field.
He began his clinical attachment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in October 2001 to January 2002 and then became a House Officer there from March 2002 to February 2003.
This hardworking and ambitious health professional later became a Medical Officer from March to October 2003 at the same Hospital.
He served as a Specialist Anaesthesiologist and Resuscitation at the Ridge Hospital, Accra between 2007 and 2008, after which he became a Consultant Anaesthesiologist cum Head of Department Anaesthesia and Critical Care at the same hospital, from 2009 to 2012.
Dr Anabah has been a United Nations Examining Physician since 2013 to date for the world body.
He was the Medical Director of Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), Accra from February 2016 to May 2017 where he gave the hospital a tremendous facelift.
Dr Anabah has been the C.E.O of Habana Medical Service, Tamale since June 2017 to date and is also the Executive Director of African Centre for Health Policy Research and Analysis (ACH-PRA) from January 2018 to date.
Achievements
Having a keen interest in the development of health systems in Ghana, Dr Anabah has put up a sterling performance in contributing his quota towards quality health delivery in the nation.
He successfully developed and established a Critical Care Unit at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and also secured a grant from Rotary International to establish an Obstetric High Depended Unit at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
He again developed the first ever BSc Nurse Anaesthesia Programme in Africa and the programme is being rolled out at the University for Development Studies, Tamale, since 2001.
According to him, the programme has come to resolve a huge national problem by creating a clear career pathway for nurse anaesthetists in Ghana who hitherto had no opportunity for career progression in the specialty.
Dr Anabah told The Spectator that he had established and managed a private hospital called “Habana Medical Service” at Tamale which has received several awards both locally and internationally for the quality of care and management style.
“I was celebrated as a Humanitarian Hero by LifeBox Foundation, 2015 in the United Kingdom for my contribution in the development of anaesthesia in the world,” he boldly and happily stated.
He has established and funded a health facility policy think-tank; Africa Centre for Health Policy Research and Analysis (ACH-PRA), headquartered at Tamale.
Hobbies and Interests
The banku and okro soup lover likes reading, gardening, public speaking and sports and is a Rotarian, currently the Rotary Foundation Chair of the Tamale Rotary Club.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
AUTISM Awareness Care and Training (AACT) is Ghana’s first autism-focused centre, playing a pioneering role in the care, education, and advocacy for children on the autism spectrum and their families.
Established in 1998, AACT began as a parent-support and training initiative at a time when autism was poorly understood in Ghana. Many families raising autistic children faced stigma, isolation, and limited access to information or professional assistance.
Over the years, the organisation has evolved into a full-fledged autism care and training centre, responding to the growing demand for specialised services and sustained nationwide awareness.
AACT is currently located in Haatso, Accra, where it operates a structured day programme serving about 25 learners daily. The centre provides a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where children with autism are guided to develop essential life, social, and functional skills.
Programmes at the centre focus on independent living skills, vocational and pre-vocational training, functional academic skills, and therapeutic interventions. These activities are tailored to the individual needs of each learner, recognising that children on the autism spectrum learn and develop at different paces.
According to Abeiku Grant, Head of Programmes at AACT, the centre’s philosophy is centred on ability rather than limitation.
“Every autistic child is different,” he said. “Our work is to support them at their own pace and help them discover what they can do, not to focus on what they cannot do.”
Beyond centre-based services, AACT places strong emphasis on autism awareness and advocacy, particularly within schools and communities. Many children with autism in Ghana continue to face rejection and exclusion due to stigma, misinformation, and the lack of trained personnel in educational institutions.
In 2025, AACT reached over 20 schools across the country, providing autism education to teachers, students, and school administrators.
The organisation also runs free teacher training programmes, equipping educators with practical knowledge and basic tools to support autistic learners in inclusive classroom settings.
“Many schools tell us they are not resourced or trained to handle autistic learners,” Mr Grant explained. “Instead of waiting for change, we decided to go to them and train teachers for free.”
AACT also engages learners directly, addressing widespread misconceptions about autism, including the false belief that autism is contagious or caused by bad parenting. These outreach programmes aim to build empathy among students and promote peer support for autistic learners in mainstream schools.
Another major challenge confronting families is limited access to autism services, especially outside Accra. With most autism centres concentrated in the capital, many families from other regions are forced to travel long distances or keep their children at home due to cost, stigma, or lack of support.
“Education is not meant only for typical children,” Mr Grant stressed. “Children with autism also have the right to education and care. No child should be hidden because of lack of understanding or opportunity.”
As part of its outreach work, AACT supports parents to overcome stigma and encourages social interaction for children with autism, believing that community engagement is essential for development and confidence building.
In December 2025, the centre received what it described as its largest donation of the year, raised by children from the Unmasked Mentoring initiative. According to the organisation, the donation was particularly significant as it demonstrated empathy and social responsibility among young people.
As a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, AACT depends largely on donations, partnerships, and goodwill to sustain and expand its work. Current needs include a minibus for community-based social activities, expansion of its facility to accommodate more learners, sponsorship support for children from financially challenged families, and funding to scale autism awareness programmes nationwide.
Looking ahead, AACT envisions a Ghanaian society that is inclusive, informed, and supportive of persons with autism.
“Our goal is a Ghana where children with autism are accepted and supported,” Mr Grant said. “Every child has potential. All they need is understanding, opportunity, and care.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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If you found yourself in Tamale last weekend, you would have stepped into an atmosphere alive with colour, rhythm and memory. The maiden Northern Ghana FOTO Festival did not feel like a typical exhibition; it felt like a cultural awakening.
Between rows of tall white panels displaying hundreds of striking images, a cultural troupe danced their way through the space, their drumming rolling through the hall like a heartbeat. The dancers’ movements fluid, bold, traditional, created a living bridge between the past and the photographs surrounding them.
Not far from the performers, chiefs in their elegant traditional regalia paused thoughtfully before portraits capturing festivals, rituals and everyday life. This immersive scene set the tone for the Northern Ghana FOTO Festival, which opened in Tamale with a resounding call for cultural preservation through visual storytelling.
The event gathered photographers, cultural advocates, scholars and traditional leaders to celebrate the narratives, traditions and identities that shaped northern Ghana. Originally launched with a call for just 30 photographic entries, organisers were overwhelmed with more than 600 images submitted by over 60 contributors from across the five northern regions.
The range of submissions from seasoned photographers and emerging artists to passionate hobbyists formed a vivid collective portrait of the region’s past and present. The opening ceremony amplified the festival’s cultural spirit with traditional drumming, dancing and performances that reflected the rich heritage the exhibition sought to highlight.
Chairperson for the event, Prof. Elliot Haruna Alhassan, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), described photography as a crucial tool for documenting Ghana’s cultural evolution. He emphasised that visual storytelling is becoming indispensable in safeguarding customs, values and community memory.
The Guest of Honour and former Rector of Tamale Technical University, Prof. Salifu Asuro, praised the organisers for creating a platform that elevates the cultural identity of northern Ghana. He encouraged public and private institutions to support creative arts initiatives, noting their significant role in national development.
Traditional authorities played a central part in the ceremony. Representatives from the Gukpe Naa and Dakpemaa palaces including Naa Prof. Abdul-Rahaman Issahaku, Chief of Gbanyamle and senior faculty member at UDS, as well as the Chief of Bunbong, Uborr Wumbe Dawuni—commended the festival for fostering cultural continuity and encouraging younger generations to reconnect with their roots.
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr Owusu-Boakye Frank, Senior Standard and quality assurance officer assured the Authority’s commitment to supporting cultural tourism. He stressed that visual storytelling, when harnessed effectively, has the potential to attract visitors, preserve cultural assets and strengthen community identity. He pledged the Authority’s collaboration in future editions to position northern Ghana as a vibrant hub for creativity and heritage.
One of the festival’s major highlights was a panel discussion on the theme: “Preserving Culture, History and Community through Visual Storytelling.” Chiefs, scholars and cultural experts explored the importance of visual documentation as a tool for intergenerational education, emphasising photography’s ability to create a timeless cultural archive.
Team Lead of Foto4Change and convener of the festival, Mr Geoffrey Buta, said the initiative seeks to strengthen cultural conservation efforts through photography. “Our forebears relied on oral tradition to preserve history,” he noted. “Today, visual storytelling enables us to continue that work in a more permanent and accessible form.”
Mr Buta announced plans to transform the festival into a rotational exhibition that will travel across northern Ghana, giving more communities access to the growing visual archive. He added that the event would be institutionalised as an annual celebration of culture, research and artistic dialogue.
The displayed photographs captured festivals, landscapes, portraits, rituals and everyday life offering a colourful, honest and layered view of northern Ghana’s cultural richness. Organisers expressed optimism that with sustained institutional support, the Northern Ghana FOTO Festival could evolve into a major cultural event capable of attracting both national and international attention, while preserving the heritage and stories that make the region unique.
By Spectator Reporter
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