The Pharmacy Class of 2000 of the College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi has commissioned and handed over a newly renovated conference room to the Department of Pharmacognosy in a ceremony held on 25th September 2024. The renovated conference room was dedicated to Professor Emeritus Kwame Sarpong, a former lecturer whose leadership and mentorship had a lasting impact on the group.
Dr. Ofori Tenkorang, President of the Year group, shared that the project, which cost One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GhȻ 160,000.00) was completed in two (2) months. The essence of renovating the conference room is to create a modern, conducive space for learning, collaboration, and innovation. He highlighted that this renovation is part of their 25th Anniversary legacy project, stating that, "this is our way of giving back to the institution that shaped our careers and nurtured our passion for pharmacy." Dr. Tenkorang also acknowledged the crucial support of some individual alumni like, Pharm. William Kofi Nti and Pharm. Isaac Owusu Ansah, Directors of ADD PHARMA GH. LTD, whose contributions ensured the project’s timely completion. He extended gratitude to the leadership of the College of Health Sciences and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana for their assistance and expressed hope that the facility would benefit students, faculty, and the pharmaceutical society.
Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Christian Agyare, thanked the year group for their generous contribution to their alma mater and urged them to continue supporting the College and the larger University, emphasising that such initiatives should not be a one-time occurrence.
Professor Gustav Komlaga, a member of the group and a lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, revealed that the idea for the renovation had been an agenda for the group for some time now but was delayed due to funding issues. He recognised the efforts of colleagues such as Dr. Tony Hama, Dr. Carl Adoku, Dr. Kofi Nti, and Dr. Owusu Ahenefie, who collectively raised a substantial amount to initiate the project.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson commended the group for their impressive gesture. She recalled her time as a Teaching Assistant for the group and praised them for giving back to the University. Professor (Mrs.) Dickson emphasised the importance of continuous improvement at KNUST, cautioning that "complacency is a disease" to be avoided. She urged the College to persist in their efforts to provide world-class academic facilities to enhance the University’s mission.