President Mahama Receives Committee Report on Transfer of UGMC to University of Ghana

On Tuesday, Feb 10, President John Dramani Mahama received the comprehensive report from the Transition Committee on the transfer of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).

The report, which details the shift of the facility's oversight from the Ministry of Health to the University of Ghana, was presented to the President at the Jubilee House.

President Mahama assured the Transitional Management Committee that their recommendations would see immediate action. He confirmed that the report will be presented to the Cabinet for final input to pave the way for swift implementation.

The President commended the committee for the diligence and speed with which they executed their mandate. The body was co-chaired by Professor Aaron Lawson, a seasoned academic and former Provost of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana.

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During the presentation, President Mahama reiterated the strategic importance of the UGMC, describing it as the country’s "highest quaternary medical facility." He emphasized that the hospital was constructed to serve as a world-class centre for research and learning for the University of Ghana.

“Indeed, it's of world-class standard, and we want to see it maintain that standard both in terms of clinical care and in terms of logistics and equipment,” the President stated. “We want to find the best path in which we can maintain the hospital at the standard at which it is.”

Key among the committee's findings is a recommendation for a phased approach to the hospital's financial independence. The report proposes a 10-year transition period to fully wean the UGMC off government subventions.

To ensure sustainable management during and after this period, the committee has also recommended the institution of performance-based leadership.