RCEM programme to advance Emergency Medicine in Ghana extended

Monday 24 February 2025

An RCEM partnership advancing postgraduate emergency medical education in Ghana has been extended.

The College, in partnership the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS) secured a £50,000 grant through the Global Health Workforce Programme, meaning the year-long programme can continue for a further six months.

The Emergency Medicine faculty of the GCPS includes only 11 EM consultants who are involved in training the large cohort of residents in government hospitals in Ghana. 

Funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care, the programme’s work over the last year has focused on supporting these consultants to advance Emergency Care in Ghana in a locally led and sustainable way.

The programme’s achievements to date have included:

• A pilot ‘twinning’ programme between the EDs of two hospitals – Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) – which has involved upskilling and the delivery of Basic Emergency Care courses, supervision and training for ED staff.
• Three Ghanaian doctors hosted as “observers” for one month each at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow – all of whom are already implementing positive changes back in their EDs in Ghana. These were set up by RCEM member and medal winner Dr Gill Park.

• Three RCEM Consultant Volunteers deployed to spend a month each at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, supporting with training, accreditation and system and pathway development.
• A presentation from the GCPS EM Chair, Dr Kwaku Nyame, at the RCEM Annual Scientific Conference in Gateshead.
• The delivery of the WHO Basic Emergency Care course and ‘Bootcamps’ held to support the induction of new EM residents in Ghanaian hospitals, delviered by the Emergency Society of Ghana.
• A project proposal has been produced for development of a Ghanaian ‘EM Leaders’ programme, following two RCEM visits to introduce specialised leadership training and share materials.
• A series of virtual webinars for Ghanaian EM residents with over 100 attendees at some of the sessions.
• Three research pieces in progress – which will help make the case for a safe and effective expansion of EM across Ghana.

Andrew Fryer, Head of RCEM International said: “The programme has already achieved so much in strengthening Emergency Care in Ghana.

“The dedication of the GCPS EM faculty, despite limited capacity, paired with the ongoing enthusiasm of the RCEM Ghana working group and RCEM’s Global Emergency Medicine Committee, will ensure we continue to make real progress and improve Emergency Medicine across the country.

“The extension of the programme is a great step forward, and we’re looking forward to supporting EM in Ghana as it expands further.”

Dr Kwaku Nyame, GCPS Emergency Medicine Faculty Chair said: “Our partnership with RCEM has achieved some great things over the last year, as part of the Global Health Workforce Programme.

“The support has helped us to offer better training to our EM residents, and prepare for the future developments and expansion of EM training.

“We are especially thankful to the volunteers from RCEM who have supported this partnership.”