KNUST Pharmacy Lecturer Honoured for Leadership in Antimicrobial Stewardship Initiative
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) College of Health Sciences has celebrated Dr. Obed Kwabena Offe Amponsah, a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, for his recognition as Co-Principal Investigator (CoPI) and Mentor for Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programmes at the KNUST Hospital and Ejisu Government Hospital.
The recognition was conferred on 3rd March 2026 during the Impact Celebration Event organised by the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association to acknowledge individuals and institutions whose work has significantly contributed to strengthening antimicrobial stewardship efforts across participating countries.
Dr. Amponsah, together with Dr. Nana Kwame Ayisi-Boateng, Director of the University Health Services, served as the lead investigators on the project titled “Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship in a District Hospital in the Ashanti Region of Ghana Using a Health Partnership Model.” The initiative aimed to strengthen responsible antimicrobial use in healthcare facilities while improving patient outcomes and enhancing clinical practice.
The project focused on establishing a sustainable global health partnership between KNUST University Hospital and Ulster University in Northern Ireland. Through this collaboration, healthcare professionals from both institutions worked together to enhance antimicrobial stewardship practices, promote knowledge exchange, and build capacity among clinicians.
Since 2021, KNUST and Ulster University have collaborated under the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) initiative to advance antimicrobial stewardship efforts in Ghana and Northern Ireland. The programme, supported by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET), focused on strengthening clinical practices, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and building institutional capacity to address antimicrobial resistance.
Although the formal project concluded in December 2025, its impact continues to shape antimicrobial stewardship practices at KNUST Hospital and partner facilities. The frameworks, training initiatives, and professional networks developed through the partnership are being sustained and expanded as part of ongoing efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance in Ghana.
A key figure in the success of the initiative was Prof. Kwame Ohene Buabeng, who served as mentor to the project team. Prof. Buabeng, who is also the Chair of Ghana’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) platform, provided strategic guidance and leadership throughout the project’s implementation, helping to strengthen the programme’s impact within Ghana’s broader national response to antimicrobial resistance.
The College also acknowledge the invaluable support of the management and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee of KNUST Hospital, whose commitment and collaboration were instrumental in successfully implementing AMS practices within the facility.
The KNUST College of Health Sciences commended Dr. Obed Kwabena Offe Amponsah and his collaborators for their dedication to advancing antimicrobial stewardship, strengthening global health partnerships, and improving patient care through responsible antimicrobial use.
