By Jones Anlimah
The School of Pharmacy of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has been challenged to strengthen its research, innovation and industry partnerships to support Ghana’s ambition of becoming a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.
The call was made by Medicines Regulatory and Quality Assurance Expert and Consultant, Pharmacist Benjamin Botwe, during the 10th Anniversary celebration and Special Congregation of the School of Pharmacy.
He urged the School to ensure that research conducted by students and faculty members translates into practical solutions for the pharmaceutical industry and the country’s healthcare needs.
Pharmacist Botwe observed that considerable research was being undertaken in Ghanaian universities, but much of the work remained inaccessible to manufacturers and other potential beneficiaries.
He described the situation as a waste of intellectual capital, stressing that research findings should not end up on university shelves after students graduate.
“Research that cannot be discovered is useless,” he said, challenging UHAS to establish accessible research repositories and stronger platforms to connect researchers with industry.
He said Ghana’s dependence on imported medicines and pharmaceutical ingredients exposed the country’s healthcare system to disruptions in global supply chains.
According to him, Ghana imports about 70 per cent of its finished medicines and nearly all its active pharmaceutical ingredients, making the development of local manufacturing capacity a national priority.
He called for greater investment in the capacity to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients locally, adding that the next generation of pharmacists must look beyond traditional clinical and community pharmacy practice.
Pharmacist Botwe identified industrial pharmacy, regulatory science, quality assurance, biomanufacturing and vaccine technology as important areas requiring specialised expertise.
He also proposed reforms to the Doctor of Pharmacy programme to incorporate industry-focused elective specialisations, practical industrial training, problem-based learning and responsible application of artificial intelligence in pharmaceutical research.
Other recommendations included establishing an industrial active pharmaceutical ingredient and phytomedicine pilot plant, developing an open-access national research repository, expanding postgraduate training in regulatory science and biomanufacturing, and creating stronger public-private partnerships to support local pharmaceutical production.
He urged the graduating pharmacists to approach their profession with integrity, humility and a commitment to lifelong learning.
“Your degree is not a declaration that you know everything. It is simply a licence to enter a lifetime of learning,” he told the graduates.
School celebrates a decade of progress
The Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Professor Lydia Aziato, said the anniversary offered an opportunity to reflect on the School’s progress since its establishment and recognise its contribution to pharmaceutical education and research.
She disclosed that the School had grown to 597 students in the 2025/2026 academic year and had produced approximately 200 graduates over the past decade.
At the Special Congregation, 52 students from the fifth graduating cohort received their degrees.
Professor Aziato said the School had also expanded its postgraduate programmes and research activities, supported by faculty members who had secured grants and established collaborations with local and international institutions.
She highlighted the commissioning of a graduate research laboratory and a zebrafish laboratory as important additions to the School’s research infrastructure.
The Vice-Chancellor also commended the School for its performance in professional examinations, citing Raymond Ofori-Akosa, who emerged as the overall best student in the professional qualifying examination and also received the award for best performance in pharmacy practice.
She further disclosed that the School had benefited from a donation of ten laptops valued at GH¢120,000 from RS Health Information Systems Limited.
However, she appealed for more support from corporate institutions and development partners, noting that the equipment was inadequate for a student population approaching 600.
New campus plans and infrastructure needs
Professor Aziato confirmed that plans for a state-of-the-art campus for the School of Pharmacy and the School of Biomedical Sciences were on the government’s agenda.
She explained that the initially proposed land at Keta had become unavailable and that alternative land had been identified around the Abor-Agnako area for consideration.
She was quick to clarify, however, that the proposal remained at the planning stage and construction had not commenced.
The Vice-Chancellor also drew attention to the university’s broader infrastructure and operational challenges, including inadequate student accommodation, lecture facilities and staff housing.
She said the university’s accommodation capacity remained insufficient for its growing student population and appealed for government support to improve infrastructure and facilitate the recruitment of additional staff.
Despite the challenges, Professor Aziato said UHAS continued to make significant strides in higher education and research.
She cited the university’s third-place ranking among 84 tertiary institutions in Ghana and its performance in the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs 3 and 8.
She also disclosed that 12 UHAS scientists had been recognised among the world’s top two per cent of scientists.
Graduates urged to uphold professional values
Addressing the graduating class, Professor Aziato urged the new pharmacists to regard their degrees as the beginning of a continuing professional journey rather than the end of their education.
She encouraged them to embrace innovation, teamwork and collaboration while upholding the university’s core values of excellence, integrity, innovation, service and care.
She said pharmacists had an important responsibility to remain abreast of developments in the rapidly evolving healthcare sector and to continually upgrade their knowledge and professional competencies.
The 10th Anniversary celebration provided an opportunity to recognise the contributions of successive university leaders, faculty members, students, alumni and partners to the development of the School of Pharmacy.
The milestone also reinforced the need for stronger collaboration between academia, industry and regulatory institutions to advance pharmaceutical research, improve access to quality medicines and contribute to Ghana’s healthcare and industrial development.
