President John Mahama yesterday swore in a nine-member committee tasked to supervise the smooth transition of operations and management of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) to the University of Ghana (UG).

This is aimed at enhancing the synergy between clinical service delivery, teaching, and research.

The inauguration of the committee also marks the fulfilment of a campaign promise by President Mahama, following his promise to the UG Vice Chancellor during a campaign visit in 2024.

The committee, composed of members from academia and government, includes the former Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Aaron Lawson, University of Ghana. Renowned Neurosurgeon at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Mutawakilu Iddrisu.

And government officials on the board also include the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education.

Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday, July 8, President Mahama reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring that the University of Ghana becomes not just a theoretical academic space but also a hub for medical excellence in the subregion.

He went on to emphasise his government's bid to make changes that will improve healthcare and medical education in Ghana for many years to come.

“We inaugurate a committee that will lead us to honour a legacy, celebrate a dream and set a bold and forward-looking institutional realignment that will shape healthcare delivery and medical education in Ghana for generations to come.”

The committee have three months to carry out their work.

“You are laying the foundation for a legacy of healthcare and medical education excellence. You are building a bridge between the past and the future.”

President Mahama had earlier hinted at the transfer in January 2025, describing it as essential to achieving the hospital’s original purpose of becoming a world-class teaching, research, and referral hospital with top-tier health professionals.

He also emphasized its role in providing cutting-edge medical research and positioning it as a centre for medical excellence in West Africa.

The UGMC was officially established in April 2013, when construction began under the administration of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, who, according to President Mahama, intended for it to be managed by a subsidiary of the university.

Given the facility's capacity, the president lamented that the facility, currently under the Ghana Health Service, is operating at only 40% of its capacity.

“Currently, only 40% of the hospital is operational. We must scale up to 100% so that our people do not continue travelling to South Africa, India, and other countries for medical care we can provide here.”

Meanwhile, the commercial contract for the project was signed by Ghana’s Ministry of Health in 2012. Construction of Phase I of the hospital started in April 2013. And in 2017, phase I was inaugurated by President John Mahama.

Just a year after the inauguration UGMC began partial operations.