Prof Oheneba-Boachie-Adjei
Foundation of Orthopaedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS) held its first-ever fundraising dinner in Ghana over the weekend to support needy children who require complex spine surgery through the FOCOS Endowment Fund.
The event which had the former President of Ghana, H.E John Agyekum Kufuor, as the guest of honour, brought together close to 250 guests, comprising CEOs and top global executives of various organisations to support a worthy cause of making children with complex spine deformities receive treatment.
Addressing the guests on the night, the Founder and President of FOCOS, Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, recounted his life experience prior to becoming an orthopaedic surgeon and also why he felt the need to establish the foundation that has helped saved many lives across the globe.
“In the Bible, it is said every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plane; this verse in many ways motivates and inspires the mission and vision of FOCOS,” Prof Boachie-Adjei said.
Ex-President Kufuor recounted his experience as a patient at FOCOS about five years ago. He stressed the importance to encourage and have confidence in local talents and professionals in every endeavor.
He said, “Surgeons like the founder and CEO of FOCOS, Professor Emeritus Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, should be encouraged by ensuring that government supports ‘the private sector with incentives…because if the private sector grows, it will then benefit and translate into the country.”
There were other speeches on the night by Board Chairman of FOCOS, Ambassador Fritz Poku, and Dr Rick Hodes of the Americanfrican Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJJDC), a foundation that sends patients from Ethiopia to FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital every year to undergo life-changing surgeries.
Dr Harry Akoto and Dr Kwadwo Yankey, two spine fellows at FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital, received honours and acknowledgement as the first set of scoliosis/spine fellows on the night of fundraising. Award-wining Ghanaian artiste and FOCOS ambassador, Bisa K’dei, climaxed the night with a wonderful performance.
The general public can make donations into the FOCOS Endowment Fund by making deposits into uniBank account number: 0211311006781, World Trade Centre branch or make in-kind donations to the FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital.