From Excellence to Eminence: KNUST Council Chairman Inspires New Vision for the College of Health Sciences
Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu, Chairman of the KNUST Governing Council, urges the University to build on its remarkable achievements and strive for greater eminence, revealing that a ten-year strategic plan is currently in development.
He also called on the College of Health Sciences to play a more proactive role in addressing pressing national and global health challenges. He urged the College to place greater emphasis on climate change, artificial intelligence (AI), and traditional medicine.
During a working visit to the College, Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu commended the extensive research being conducted but voiced concern over its limited influence on public policy and societal advancement. “Research must lead to societal transformation,” he emphasized. “Much is being done, but very little reaches those who need it most. If I am not informed about your work, I may never know its impact.”
Drawing from his involvement in a national study on climate and health, the Chairman encouraged intensified research into the intersection of climate change and public health. He underscored that such research is vital to inform policies aimed at tackling the health threats posed by climate change in Ghana and beyond.
He also articulated an ambitious vision to position KNUST as a global leader in ethnopharmacology and evidence-based traditional medicine. He outlined a multi-faceted plan to integrate indigenous knowledge with modern science to produce standardized herbal products for the international market. This vision includes the creation of a comprehensive scientific database of over 500 African medicinal plants, the development of more than 30 standardized traditional medical products with intellectual property protection, the training of over 100 specialists in the scientific validation of herbal medicine, and the establishment of a World Health Organization Collaborative Centre for Traditional Medicine at KNUST.
The College board members responded positively, noting that collaborations were already underway between the College of Health Sciences and the College of Engineering to drive innovation in pharmaceutical technology and health systems.
He further stressed the importance of preparing for a future shaped by artificial intelligence, noting that AI is poised to play a significant role in healthcare research and delivery. KNUST, he argued, must stay ahead by embracing AI-driven innovations in health sciences.
At the meeting, the Provost of the College, Professor Christian Agyare, presented a comprehensive overview of the College’s achievements and numerous initiatives.
He used the opportunity to appeal for the completion of key infrastructure projects critical to the College’s growth and impact. These included the KNUST Teaching Hospital, the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, and the School of Public Health building.
