Mission

To aid the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Ministry of Health in the development of Emergency Medicine as a medical specialty and to improve the overall delivery of acute accident and emergency care in Ghana.

History of the collaborative

Ghana is a Sub-Saharan African country with a population of 23,383,846. Ghana is bordered on the west by the Ivory Coast, on the north by Burkina Faso and to the east by Togo. Its southern border is the Atlantic Ocean in the form of the Gulf of Guinea.  The Gold coast, as it was formerly known, was the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence from colonial rule.  The republic of Ghana was established on March 6th 1957 and has enjoyed 50 years of democratic elections and rule. There are more than 250 languages and dialects spoken in the country but English is the official language. Educational instruction at all levels is conducted in English.
 Ghana boasts a well-established medical education system with three large teaching hospitals associated with medical schools in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast. The medical community has a long tradition of high quality surgical training and care, in addition to strong medical training and care. Over the past 20 years there have been great strides in Obstetrics and Gynecologic care, thanks in part to a successful partnership between the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan and their national counterparts in Ghana.

For several years there has been growing support for organization and development of an emergency medical system and acute care. In 1997 a group of physicians, who dealt mainly with traumatic injuries, led a charge to improve both government supported road safety as well as improvements in accident and trauma care. The government responded with the implementation of new road improvement strategies, traffic lights, and increased police presence in the cities. This recognition of need came to a climax when a soccer stadium stand collapsed. Without properly trained first responders or Emergency medical professionals at the receiving hospitals this incident resulted in several deaths and significant injuries of many Ghanaians.

Professor Paul Nyame, Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, identified Emergency Medicine as a specialty to be developed and recognized by organized medicine and the public in Ghana. Dr. Ahmed Zakariah is leading the development of a National Ambulance Service and a federal commission on the state of Emergency Medicine in Ghana.  Perhaps the most visible government response has been the construction of the new Accident and Emergency center at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, which was spearheaded by Dr. Nsiah-Asare..

After discussions were held with Ghanaian leaders, a group from the University Of Michigan Department Of Emergency Medicine travelled to Ghana in August 2008.  Through visits to Ghana and ongoing communication from 2008-2009, a commitment to partnership was established among KATH, KNUST, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ministry of Health, the University Of Michigan Department Of Emergency Medicine and the University of Utah Section of Emergency Medicine.  The overall goal is improve the provision and outcomes of emergency care in Ghana by developing the training and practice of Emergency Medicine in Ghana.