The West Africa College of Surgeons (WACS) has inducted President John Dramani Mahama as the Grand Patron of its 66th Annual Conference, currently underway in Accra.
As part of the induction ceremony, the President was presented with a plaque and a certificate in recognition of his longstanding support for the College and for healthcare delivery across the sub-region. The conference is being held under the theme “Capacity Building in Surgery.”
In his acceptance remarks, President Mahama commended surgeons for their dedication to a profession he described as life-saving and essential to national development. He noted that the conference theme was timely, stressing that continuous capacity building remains critical to sharpening the skills of surgeons to meet evolving healthcare demands.
“Capacity building is not only about producing more surgeons,” he said. “It is equally about strengthening the teams and systems that support safe surgery, including anesthesia, nursing, diagnostics, blood services, sterile supply chains, critical care, and reliable referral pathways.”
President Mahama also underscored the importance of inclusion in capacity building efforts, highlighting gender equity as a key pillar for sustainable health systems. “Gender equity in surgical training and leadership is not only a matter of fairness, but also a practical necessity for stronger and more resilient health systems,” he added.
While acknowledging the importance of building capacity, the President expressed concern about the increasing migration of health professionals in search of better opportunities abroad, which continues to strain local health systems. He stressed the need for deliberate and practical measures to curb the trend.
“Our response must include improving working conditions, strengthening career pathways, enhancing professional recognition, and creating environments in which health workers can thrive and choose to serve,” he said. “At the same time, we must develop structured avenues to engage the expertise of professionals in the diaspora.”
Reaffirming government’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s healthcare foundations, President Mahama assured participants that recommendations emerging from the conference would be carefully studied. He pledged that government would collaborate with stakeholders to implement proposals requiring immediate action, while also developing structured pathways for longer-term reforms.
