By Stanley Kwabla Arku
Entrance University of Health Sciences has officially inaugurated its Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing, along with a new Dental Hospital, at its campus in Spintex, Accra.
The institution, founded by industrialist Nana Samuel Amo Tobbin, becomes the first private university in Ghana to establish a full-fledged medical and dental training programme, a move widely hailed as timely and strategic in addressing the country’s growing demand for quality healthcare professionals.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nana Tobbin, who serves as Chancellor of the university, reiterated his commitment to expanding educational and employment opportunities for Ghanaians. He highlighted the challenges faced by students who pursue medical education abroad, particularly in countries like Ukraine and China, where language and cultural barriers often hinder their ability to obtain local medical licenses upon return.
“This challenge is not the fault of the children. It arises from their exposure to different environments and systems,” he said. “Our science-based approach at Entrance University is designed to equip students with the skills and standards necessary to thrive both locally and internationally.”
He also made a passionate appeal to the Vice President to advocate for support through the national scholarship programme, emphasizing that expanding access to institutions like Entrance University would retain valuable resources within the country while directly empowering local communities.
Delivering her keynote address, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang commended the university for its pioneering efforts and emphasized the importance of combining academic excellence with practical service delivery.
“The opening of these schools and the dental hospital marks a significant contribution to Ghana’s healthcare training capacity,” she noted. “It is my hope that the relationship between students and surrounding communities will be mutually enriching. Patients will benefit from specialized dental care, while students gain vital, hands-on clinical experience.”
She stated that the initiative aligns with the World Health Organization’s call for greater emphasis on preventative healthcare and praised the university’s leadership for responding to national needs with foresight and innovation.
The Vice President also shared updates on key government interventions in the health sector. She cited the formation of a presidential transition committee tasked with overseeing the transformation of the University of Ghana Medical School into an independent institution, as part of efforts to streamline healthcare education and develop world-class medical facilities.
Additionally, she highlighted the Mahama Cares initiative, which aims to bridge critical healthcare gaps particularly in the treatment of renal diseases not currently covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme.
“The private sector has a crucial role to play in expanding our national healthcare footprint,” she urged. “Let this be a call to action for similar investments across all regions.”
The newly inaugurated Dental Hospital is expected to serve both as a training hub for students and as a specialized center offering advanced dental care to residents of the Greater Accra Region and beyond.
With this milestone, Entrance University of Health Sciences is positioning itself as a key player in training the next generation of healthcare professionals to support Ghana’s health transformation agenda.