Accra: President John Dramani Mahama was on Monday installed as the Grand Patron of the West African College of Surgeons (WASC) during the 66th Annual General Scientific Meeting (AGSM) at the University of Professional Studies, Accra. The installation was led by Professor Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai, the President of WASC.
According to Ghana News Agency, the WASC, established in 1960 and based in Lagos, Nigeria, is dedicated to the training of surgeons, setting professional standards, and enhancing healthcare across more than 15 West African countries. The organization plays a crucial role in postgraduate education across eight faculties, such as anaesthesia, orthopaedics, and surgery, and it conducts fellowship examinations alongside hosting an annual scientific conference.
The conference, themed 'Capacity Building in Surgery: Developing the Next Generation of Surgeons in West Africa,' is a week-long event attracting global participants. President Mahama expressed his gratitude to the WASC for appointing him as Grand Patron and awarding him as an Honorary Fellow, stating that he accepts these honors on behalf of Ghanaians with humility and a commitment to support the College's work. He highlighted the inseparable link between the work of surgeons and the health, dignity, and productivity of people.
President Mahama lauded the surgeons for their life-saving profession and emphasized the Accra Conference's focus on a professional community that transcends national borders, reflecting shared aspirations and enduring partnerships. Prior to the conference, the WASC organized a surgical outreach from February 1st to February 7th, which provided successful surgeries for 855 Ghanaians nationwide.
The President extended his appreciation to the volunteer surgeons involved in the outreach and requested the College to submit the surgery costs to the Minister of Health for consideration, affirming that the government would cover the expenses. He emphasized that the WASC exemplifies what the sub-region can achieve through professionalism and shared standards.
As an affiliate of the West African Health Organization, the College represents regional cooperation that ECOWAS must continue to strengthen. Over the years, the WASC has trained a significant number of surgeons serving in the region, and President Mahama conveyed gratitude from governments and citizens across West Africa for this contribution.
He acknowledged the WASC pioneers, such as Dr. Victor Anomah Ngu and Sir Samuel Manuwa, whose foresight benefits generations of specialists and patients. He also paid tribute to Ghanaian surgeons and educators like the late Professor Emmanuel Augustus Badoe and others for their contributions to the College's growth and specialist training.
President Mahama recalled the tragic loss of Professor John M.K. Quartey and colleagues during a surgical outreach, highlighting the collective duty to ensure access to specialized care regardless of geography. Professor Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai, the WASC President, noted the Accra Conference's focus on innovative surgical training and research.