The leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has paid a courtesy call on the new Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Seidu Al-hassan in his office. The purpose of the visit was to congratulate him on his appointment as the Vice-Chancellor and to thank the University community for hosting the Annual General Meeting of the PSGH at the University Campus.

 The AGM of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana which came off from August 29 to September 4, 2022 saw in attendance, more than One Thousand six hundred (1600) Pharmacists from across the country and more than Two Thousand Four Hundred (2400) participants joining online.

The AGM which was under the theme: “Optimizing the Pharmaceutical Workforce in a Rapidly Evolving World”, also saw in attendance a representative of the President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Hon. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, the health Minister, and a representative of His Royal Majesty Ya-Na Abukari II. Also present were: The Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye and representatives of other associations in the health sector.

The Registrar of UDS, Mr. Nurudeen Issah Abubakar, welcomed the guests and informed them that their AGM drew the attention of people in the Country and beyond to the University. He informed them that, they were fortunate to have met two Vice-Chancellors and two Registrars, in the persons of Prof-Gabriel Ayum Teye (Outgone Vice-Chancellor) and Professor Seidu Al-hassan (Substantive Vice-Chancellor) as well as Dr. A. B. T. Zakariah (Outgone Registrar) and Mr. Nurudeen Issah Abubakar (Substantive Registrar) respectively, in the process of organizing the AGM. “Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye was the one in office during the AGM and Professor Seidu Al-hassan was closing it with them”. He added.

The Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Pharm Yaa Adwo Osei-Ofei, informed the Vice-Chancellor that, their plans of having the AGM in Tamale dated back to 2019, but it could not come off because of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. She thanked God that it had become a success on the Tamale Campus of UDS. She added that having the programme in Tamale created a huge economic boom for some restaurant owners as well as smock sellers and other businesses in town. She told the Vice-Chancellor that, they went to the Tamale market and educated market women on drug abuse and the best ways of using drugs when sick. She indicated that the PSGH also enjoyed the hospitality of the people of Tamale and the cooperation of staff and students of the university. “the WPD staff, University Relations and General Administration Staff have worked hard to help us throughout the AGM, of which we are grateful”. She indicated.

Pharm. Samuel Kow Donkoh, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, congratulated the Vice-Chancellor on his appointment and said that he was delighted about the reception accorded them during their week-long stay in the University and the other surrounding communities. He reiterated that, the goal of PSGH is to ensure that jobs are created for the young pharmacists who are under training by the Universities and the Colleges across the country. “The future jobs for Pharmacist is our priority, since almost all the Public and some Private Universities have started running Pharmacy Courses”. He added. He further said that efforts are being made to influence policy decisions with government, towards the future of Pharmacist and academic institutions like UDS that are training Pharmacist.

Professor Seidu Al-hassan, Vice-Chancellor of UDS, said he was excited to meet the leadership of the PSGH on his fifth day in office. He added that, they were the first external institution to have called on him since he assumed office as the Vice-Chancellor on September 1, 2022. He reiterated that, the relationship between the University and the pharmacists brought about the establishment of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and that his arms were opened for some collaborations with the PSGH. He indicated that he was happy to note that they had an incidence free AGM and encouraged them to always call on him as and when the need arises.

The President of the Pharmaceutical Society was accompanied by: Rev. Dr. Denis Sena Awitty, Executive Secretary, Pharm Dr. Amos Adapalala Bugri, Northern Regional president/Local Organizing Committee Chairman and Pharm Dr. Kwame Agyepong, Vice President of the Northern Regional PSGH, as well as the University Relations team.

Story by:
Mr. Isaac E. Dramani
(University Relations Office)