He said the infectious diseases, whether they affect humans, animals or crops continues to be a fundamental impediment to both economic development and human health in Ghana and in the entire sub-region.

 Prof Owusu made the call at the opening of the three-day Second Biennial Scientific Conference of the University of Ghana’s College of Health Sciences in Accra on Wednesday. The conference was on the theme: “New Threats and Old Challenges in Communicable Epidemic”, and brings to the fore the rising disease burden in the sub-region.

 The theme of the Conference also situates very well the role that the health sector could play in the quest to control numerous communicable diseases in the country and the sub-region.

The country, Prof Owusu said was doomed to face worse times both economically and health-wise if it fails to change the way things were done. He said this could impact the field of science and research, under which agriculture and health plays a critical role in ensuring the achievement of the holistic national development anticipated under the Sustainable Development Goals.

He also expressed disappointment at the negative behaviour of the private sector towards investment in science and research which presents a very gloomy future for achieving any meaningful innovation for solving the numerous challenges of the country. Prof Owusu called for renewed commitments from both government and the private sector for sustainable solutions to the current health, environmental and economic challenges facing the country and the sub-region.

 “Until this challenge is met the development of the continent will continue to be severely retarded, and this brings to the fore the significant and the indispensable role the College of Health Sciences plays in ensuring the continuous improvement of the health of all Ghanaians”, he said.He said ensuring improved private sector funding for science and research development would ensure innovative ways of improving health care delivery, holistic human development, as well as the transformation in businesses through improved products and service derived from quality research outcomes. 

The UG through the College of Health Sciences apart from its core mandate of providing education, also monitors, detects and investigates into health problems, suggest prevention strategies to enhance prevention as well as promote healthy behaviour, foster safe and healthy environments among others in the country.    

The University, he said, was investing heavily in procuring science equipment to benefit its faculties and students, and the College has the potential and capacity to help the UG to quickly realise its objective of attaining a world-class research intensive status as well as becoming financially self-reliant.

“There is therefore the need for proper collaboration to ensure that maximum benefits are derived out of this conference”, he said. Prof.  Andrew Anthony Adjei, the Director of the University of Ghana and Chairman of the Second Biennial Scientific Conference, said the programme though was opened to the public, targets research institutions both in Ghana and in the sub-region as well as the private sector for strengthened partnerships.

He said the conference would discuss health challenges including malaria, cancers, liver diseases, diabetes as well as the Ebola Virus Disease, after which a communique would be issued and distributed to the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, development partners and other healthcare-based institutions across the country.

He said recommendations made at the conference would also be published in recognised health journals for public consumption.