Accra, March 28, GNA- Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education has announced that the government will in the coming days launch the National Research Fund that will support institutions across the country to undertake research programmes.
That, he added would also help the government fine-tune policy directions and enhance the growth and development of all sectors of society.
Mr Iddrisu announced this during the launch of the programme of activities to mark the earning of the Presidential Charter of the Family Health University to operate like an independent premier Medical University in the country.
The programme attracted patrons from the Academia, traditional authorities, Civil Society Organisations and professional bodies that had in one way or the other partnered them in health and education.
Family Health University College (FHUC) received a Presidential Charter in 2024, and is now Family Health University (FHU), which marks a significant milestone in the history of the Institution and has become the first and only private chartered University in Ghana with a Medical School.
The event was attended by dignitaries, which included the Chief of Staff, Senior Government Officials, members of Parliament, Family Health University’s Founders, Council Chairman, and the Registrar.
The Presidential Charter is the highest accolade granted to tertiary institutions in Ghana, signifying autonomy and excellence in education. With this status, Family Health University is now empowered to award its own degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
The Education Minister said the partnership between the government and Educational institutions would be upscaled to embrace more Ghanaian students to train locally to ensure that all deficits at health and educational institutions were catered for.
He gave the assurance that the government would not interfere in the academic affairs of universities and other tertiary institutions and would therefore be dissolving and reconstituting various governing boards to enhance the efficiency of such institutions.
Professor Enyonam Yao Kwawukume, Vice Chancellor and Founder of the University called for a collaboration from the government and other partners to train more Medical doctors and Nurses locally, for them to appreciate the task ahead of them, as doing so outside could give them a different orientations.
He said Lecturers and other staff were committed to carrying out research programmes that could help upscale development issues and called on the government to provide some space to implement such findings.
Professor Kwawukume gave the assurance that his outfit would this year embark on a massive research on cervical cancer and called for support to do a good job.
Family Health University’s remarkable journey began humbly in 1997 as a Diagnostic Centre in a garage at 51 Guggisberg Street, Korle Bu. Over the years, it expanded into Family Health Hospital and eventually established its permanent campus in Teshie in 2007.
The institution’s commitment to training healthcare professionals led to the creation of the Nursing and Midwifery School in 2009, and Ghana’s first private Medical School in 2014.
In 2016, Family Health University gained University College status, thereby solidifying its vision to be a prime centre for the education and training of health professionals for the advancement of human health.
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