Prof John Owusu Gyapong taking the oath of office
The new Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UAHS), Prof John Owusu Gyapong, has promised to transform UHAS into a world class research and practically oriented health educational institution.
He, therefore, promised to finalise and implement the strategic plan to establish a health and research institute in his first year in office. This is to promote multi-disciplinary research in infectious diseases, chronic disease, maternal and child health, policy and implementation research.
The institute will form the basis of establishing a research directorate to enhance research management by professional research administrators, equivalent to assistant registrars to drive the university’s research enterprise.
The 54-year-old professor made the announcement after he was inducted into office as the second vice chancellor of UHAS during a colourful induction ceremony at the university’s main campus, Sokode-Lokoe, near Ho, the Volta regional capital.
An Appeal Court judge and a member of the university’s council, Justice Agnes Dordzi, administered the oath of office to formally induct Prof Agyapong into office.
The event was graced by vice chancellors and registrars of other public universities in the country as well as traditional leaders from the Volta Region.
Prof Gyapong who is a professor of epidemiology took over from Prof Fred Newton Binka, whose term of office ended on July 31, 2016.
According to him, investment in research provides strategic direction and leadership in achieving key performance indicators for the university and is strongly correlated with national development.
Other areas of interest in the professor’s strategic plan for UHAS include creating a conducive academic environment, efficient management of internal processes, diversity promotion and excellent engagement of internal and external stakeholders of UHAS.
The rest are fundraising and prudent financial management, improvement and constant management of facilities, world class ICT-enabled environment and effective monitoring and evaluation of all activities of UHAS.
Until his appointment, Prof Agyapong was the pro-vice chancellor for Research Innovation & Development at the University of Ghana, Legon, since 2011.
He also worked in several capacities at the Ghana Health Service, where he rose through the ranks to become the director of Research and Development, Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service from 2000 to 2010, and led the process of defining the health research agenda for the health sector and supervised three research centres in Navorongo, Kintampo and Dodowa.
Apart from his various degrees, he is a fellow of the Ghana College of Physicians, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
He has to his credit 108 papers in peer reviewed international journals, authored one book, contributed chapters in eight books, over 50 technical reports, and made over 300 presentations at scientific conferences.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)