By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, Nov. 13, GNA– Newly qualified pharmacists have been urged to position themselves as frontline healthcare professionals and active contributors to patient care, rather than limiting their role to dispensing medicines.
Mr William Delali Ofori, a pharmacist and pharmaceutical industry executive, said pharmacists occupied a critical position in healthcare delivery and had the capacity to influence treatment outcomes and medication safety.
He made the call at the 2026 Congregation Ceremony of the School of Pharmacy of the University of Ghana.
The ceremony saw 99 students graduate with Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degrees, marking the successful completion of their professional training and entry into the healthcare workforce.
Mr Nathaniel Atuahene Opoku was adjudged the Valedictorian for this year’s Congregation.
Mr Ofori encouraged the graduates to look beyond traditional community pharmacy practice and pursue opportunities in pharmaceutical manufacturing, research, regulation, pharmacovigilance, quality assurance and health informatics.
“Be a clinician and not a shopkeeper,” he said, stressing that pharmacists must become visible members of healthcare teams and play active roles in improving patient outcomes.
He noted that every interaction between a pharmacist and a patient presented an opportunity to prevent medication-related harm, promote the rational use of medicines and improve adherence to treatment.
Mr Ofori further challenged the graduates to contribute towards strengthening pharmaceutical manufacturing on the African continent and reducing dependence on imported medicines through innovation, research and professional excellence.
Addressing the graduating class, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, described the occasion as a celebration of the students’ achievement and a major milestone in their personal and professional journeys.
She observed that the graduates were entering a rapidly evolving healthcare environment shaped by advances in science and technology, digital health systems, artificial intelligence and emerging public health challenges.
Professor Amfo said success in such an environment would require not only technical competence but also critical thinking, ethical judgement, adaptability, effective communication skills and a commitment to lifelong learning.
She advised the new pharmacists to place patients and communities at the centre of their practice, uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, and embrace evidence-based approaches to healthcare delivery.
The Vice-Chancellor said the graduates now bore the responsibility of applying the knowledge, discipline and values acquired during their studies to serve Ghana and the global community with distinction. She encouraged them to pursue continuous professional development and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Delivering the valedictory address on behalf of the graduating class, Mr Nathaniel Atuahene Opoku reflected on the shared journey of the graduates and urged his colleagues to use their knowledge and skills in service of society.
Mr Opoku, a published researcher, served as General Secretary of the University of Ghana Pharmacy Students’ Association and Internal Auditor of the Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation, Ghana, during his time at the university.
Beyond academics, he is the founder of the Centre of Piano Lessons, where he mentors aspiring pianists.
The graduates are expected to strengthen healthcare delivery across clinical practice, industry, academia, research and public health, helping to improve access to quality healthcare services and better treatment outcomes.
*Background*
The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programme is designed to produce pharmacists with strong clinical competencies who can work directly with patients and collaborate with healthcare teams in managing treatment and improving health outcomes.
Over the years, the role of pharmacists has expanded beyond the dispensing of medicines to include medication therapy management, patient counselling, disease prevention, pharmacovigilance and public health interventions.
In Ghana, pharmacists play important roles in hospitals, community pharmacies, the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory institutions, academia and research, while supporting the rational use of medicines and efforts to address antimicrobial resistance, medication errors and access to quality healthcare.
GNA
Reporter: Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Email: [email protected]
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong