The Ghana College of Physicians & Surgeons’ (GCPS) 2023 Leadership Symposium was dedicated to honouring Professor Paul Kwame Nyame and Professor Emeritus Francis Nkrumah.

Held at the Ghana College of Physicians & Surgeons’ main auditorium, Ridge, Accra, Tuesday, November 14, 2023, the annual event, this year was themed: ‘Health Sector Development in Ghana: Exemplary Leadership in Research and Medical Education’.

Mastering the ceremony were: Elikem Oklu and Emefa Akosua Adeti.

| L-R: Emefa and Elikem 

Multiple award-winning health advocate and medical doctor Dr Ewura Adjoa Nunoo introduced the chairperson.

In accepting to chair the mid-afternoon programme, Prof Yaw Adu Gyamfi, while outlining and eulogising Prof Nyame and Prof Nkrumah for their respective and collective legacies, remarked, “Exemplary leaders strengthen everyone’s capacity to deliver.”

| Prof Yaw Adu Gyamfi

“Each of us in some space, is a leader,” GCPS Rector Prof Adanu began his introductory remarks when he came up the stage, stressing it can be seen even as children play on the field.

Lightheartedly, he recalled that he was once a student of Prof Richard Nyame’s, and, in fact, offered his tongue for demonstration in class. Though not flawless, Prof Nyame and Prof Nkrumah have “made a mark in medical leadership,” and in focus today, Prof Adanu stressed, “are their contributions” having put themselves “in the line of fire” as leaders.  

| Prof Richard Adanu in the yellow and blue stripped neck tie

Two documentaries were shown consecutively, celebrating and exploring the scope of Profs Nyame and Nkrumah’s education and service to Ghana and the world.

“It wasn’t just a profession, he was heart and soul into the job,” wife of Professor Emeritus Francis Nkrumah said in the documentary, revealing her husband, an O+ universal donor, once offered his blood to save a child in his line of duty.

Dr Linda Baafi rousingly introduced the Keynote Speaker.

When Dr David Ofori Adjei got behind the lectern, he noted that, in the 1970s, he was taught by both Profs Nyame and Nkrumah. His focus, he revealed, was on succession regarding leadership. He underscored how crucial it is to engage outgoing leaders, potential leaders and other stakeholders when the “vital” and “continuous process” of succession is considered, as this will determine the making or breaking of any institution.

The programme which spanned from 2 PM to 5 PM also saw the reading of citations and an award ceremony.

Prof Francis K. Nkrumah was awarded, among many other things, for his help in the eradication of polio on the continent. While his citation was read by Dr Justina Ansah, the citation plaque and bouquet were received by his wife, Dr Mrs Margaret Nkrumah, in his absence. Of all the awards and citations her husband has received, she remarked, the Ghana College of Physicians & Surgeons’ will mean the world to him because “it is from his home base and colleagues”.

| Dr Justina Ansah

| Dr Mrs Margaret Nkrumah receiving a citation plaque on her husband's behalf

| Mostly Dr Nkrumah's family posing for a picture

Among other things, Prof Paul K. Nyame was awarded for his visionary leadership which led to the founding of the Cocoa Clinic. His citation was read by Prof Pius Agbenorku.

| Prof Pius Agbenorku

When Prof Nyame went up stage for his bouquet and citation plaque, the entire room gave him a standing ovation. In his acceptance speech, Prof Nyame stirred the Pan-African spirit, echoing US President John F. Kennedy’s famous words: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. The Achimota Senior High School alumnus rebuked indiscipline and also bemoaned the activity and pollutions of the illegal small mining menace, nicknamed galamsey, commending the Duke of Mampong-Ashanti, Nana Osei Bonsu II, Mamponghene, for his courage and show of leadership in driving the galamsey criminals out of his land.

| Prof Nyame with the walking stick, and his son to his right

Spoken Word artiste Kojo Awortey performed in Akan and English, clad in regal kente, and accompanied by a guitarist.

The programme's audience consisted varied people, including family, friends, associates, students and mentees of the honourees, officials and staff of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, officials of the Duala Medical Centre, officials and staff of the Ghana Medical Association, and medical doctor and politician Dr Edward Mahama and the media.

In 2019, the GCPS’ Faculty of Public Health birthed the annual leadership symposium launched to celebrate individuals dedicated to rendering services to improve public health.

The 2023 Ghana College of Physicians & Surgeons’ (GCPS) Leadership Symposium was sponsored by Stanbic Bank Ghana.

| Stanbic Bank's desk