According to Ghana News Agency:ettey, Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI) and the guest speaker of this year’s lecture series, praised the late President Mills as an academic icon and a statesman who, with his forward-thinking, established UHAS in 2011.
Dr. Sodzi-Tettey highlighted that UHAS has thrived despite initial skepticism, continuing to graduate top-notch health professionals and attracting some of the best faculty and scientists globally. He emphasized that President Mills envisioned UHAS as a leading institution for training health professionals in Ghana, and today, that vision has been realized.
The guest speaker also encouraged African leaders to emulate the persona of President Captain Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso, noting the need for strong yet humble leaders with integrity who prioritize national interests. Regarding the theme, Dr. Sodzi-Tettey discussed recent disruptions to global health financing, which threaten quality health systems. By May 9th of this year, over 176,818 jobs were confirmed lost globally, impacting the global health community.
He further noted that significant research on improving health services and workforce training has been halted. With Ghana scheduled to exit the Global Alliance of Vaccine Initiative (GAVI) by 2030, the country must secure $51 million annually to fund vaccine purchases for the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI). This development will heavily impact global institutions like WHO and the Global Fund, especially in Africa.
Additionally, Dr. Sodzi-Tettey shared results from a 2025 joint external evaluation of Ghana’s pandemic preparedness conducted by an international health regulatory group. The findings highlighted Ghana’s strengths in national policies, strategic plans, and robust coordination mechanisms. However, weaknesses such as inconsistent policy enforcement, fragmented budget allocations, and reliance on external donor support were also noted.
He stressed the importance of addressing these weaknesses to enhance the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats amidst global disruptions. The lecture emphasized the need for expedited action to improve Ghana’s health security framework.
Prof. Lydia Aziato, Vice Chancellor of UHAS, remarked on the significant progress and standards set by the university, aligning with the vision of the late President Mills. The forum was attended by the new Governing Council Chairperson, Prof. Kodzo Gavua, Prof. Fred Newton Binkah, the Foundation Vice Chancellor, political figures, academia, and students.