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President Akufo-Addo commissions phase II expansion project of UHAS
On Monday, July 29, 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the Phase II expansion project of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), highlighting the significance of this development for Ghana’s healthcare sector.
Reflecting on the project’s journey, President Akufo-Addo recalled the sod-cutting ceremony for Phase II on September 10, 2021. He acknowledged the need for further infrastructural development at UHAS to fulfill its mandate effectively.
Under his directive, the Ministers for Education and Finance, in collaboration with UHAS management and the then Vice Chancellor Professor John Owusu Gyapong, secured $60 million in funding from the Chinese Government.
The President expressed gratitude to the President, Government, and People of the People’s Republic of China for their support and the strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Lu Kun, and his predecessor, the late Ambassador Her Excellency Sun Bahong.
The contribution of the contractors, Nantong Sijian Construction Group, and Ghana’s former Ambassador to China, Ambassador Edward Boateng, was also recognized.
The completion of Phase II will significantly enhance UHAS’s capacity to train more health professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other allied health practitioners.
This expansion is essential to address the growing healthcare needs of Ghana’s population and the demand for a skilled workforce. With additional facilities and resources, UHAS will be better positioned to offer comprehensive education and practical training, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for the healthcare sector’s challenges.
Moreover, the new facilities will support cutting-edge research and innovation, allowing scientists and researchers to explore new advancements in medicine and healthcare delivery.
This progress is crucial for developing locally relevant solutions to health challenges and establishing Ghana as a leader in health research in Africa.
To mark this special occasion, President Akufo-Addo announced a personal donation of ten desktop computers and ten laptops to UHAS. These devices will aid the administration and enhance the university’s capacity to provide quality education and services.
President Akufo-Addo also took the opportunity to express his profound gratitude to the outgoing Chairperson of the University Council, the esteemed former Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Jones Victor Mawulorm Dotse, for his exemplary leadership and contributions over the past six years. He wished Mr. Dotse God’s blessings and success in his future endeavors.
The commissioning of the Phase II expansion project marks a significant milestone in UHAS’s journey towards becoming a premier institution for health education and research in Ghana and beyond.
A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Sammy Ayeh has picked up nomination forms to contest for the position of Deputy National Communications Officer position.
Announcing his intention, Dr. Ayeh said he is offering himself to help communicate the party’s vision clearly and connect its message with the aspirations of Ghanaians.
He expressed deep gratitude to the party’s National Communications Officer, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi, describing him as an able leader on whose shoulders he has risen.
“His exceptional leadership, mentorship and confidence in me have shaped my journey and strengthened my resolve to serve,” Dr. Ayeh stated.
He said if elected, he will seek to build on that foundation by strengthening research-driven communication, empowering grassroots communicators, and enhancing strategic media engagement.
Dr. Ayeh humbly appealed to party members and supporters for their support.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Data Protection Commission has called on the Minority Caucus in Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, JoyNews and other media houses to protect the personal information of 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Commission expressed concern over the public disclosure of the evacuees’ personal details, including their names, signatures and records of financial assistance received.
It warned that making such information public could expose the affected individuals to identity theft, fraud and other forms of harm, especially given the threats to their safety that some of them may have faced.
The Commission explained that the 1992 Constitution protects the dignity and privacy of every individual. It also cited the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), which sets out rules for the lawful collection, use and disclosure of personal information.
While acknowledging the importance of transparency, parliamentary oversight, the right to information and press freedom, the Commission stressed that these principles do not automatically justify the unrestricted publication of personal details.
It said the disclosure of the records by the Minority Caucus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, JoyNews and other media organisations must be assessed based on the law, the purpose of the disclosure and the privacy rights of the individuals involved.
The Commission further noted that although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament are registered data controllers in good standing, their registration does not exempt them from their legal responsibilities under the Data Protection Act.
It has therefore urged all the parties involved to take appropriate steps to protect the affected individuals, including immediately restricting access to or removing personal details from publicly available records where their continued disclosure is not legally justified.
The Commission announced plans to conduct a regulatory review to determine whether the disclosures had a lawful basis, what safeguards were applied and whether the privacy rights of the evacuees had been adequately protected.
It said it would engage the relevant parties as part of the review and take appropriate regulatory action if any breach of the law is established.
The Commission reiterated that protecting personal information and respecting human dignity must remain central to efforts to promote public accountability.
By: Jacob Aggrey
