A four-member delegation from the Ohio State University in the United States of America visited the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) last Thursday for a feasibility study tour.

The visit aimed to assess the possibility of establishing a research collaboration between GAEC and the Global One Health Initiative (GOHi), Ohio State University's cutting-edge holistic health research institute.

The delegation, led by the Director of the Centre for African Studies, Prof. Ousman Murzik Kobo, included the Executive Director of GOHi, Prof. Wondwossen Gebreyes; Associate Professor of Human Nutrition at the College of Education and Human Ecology, Prof. Irene Enam Hatsu; and Associate Professor at the College of Nursing, Prof. Dónal P. O’Mathúna.

Prof. Kobo explained the delegation’s purpose in Ghana and said the proposed
collaboration would draw on the resources of both institutions to solve major global health concerns.

He also indicated that the collaboration would lead to the establishment of West African headquarters in Ghana.

“We are here to establish partnerships and identify ways to build enduring, mutually beneficial relationships with any institution involved in the GOHi-related healthcare industry. Our concept is to engage with our fellow African scholars and researchers in such a way that we can share resources that are mutually beneficial,” he said.

The delegation was received by the Director-General of GAEC, Prof. Samuel Dampare, the Deputy Director-General of GAEC, Prof. Dickson Adomako, and the Directors of the seven technical institutes of GAEC.

Prof. Dampare expressed his delight about the proposed partnership and provided the delegation with an overview of GAEC’s existing projects and research capabilities.

He emphasized the importance of the visit, saying, “I believe that the skills and resources of GOHi, combined with the competencies of GAEC, will result in a successful collaboration. We look forward to working together to achieve our common goals.”

The Director-General also took the opportunity to inform the delegation of GAEC’s 60th anniversary on the theme “60 Years of Impacting Society through Nuclear Science and Technology—Expanding Our Frontiers.”

Both parties took turns delivering a presentation on the concept of GOHi as well as the milestones and achievements of GAEC in health research.

The delegation was later conducted around the laboratories and other facilities of GAEC.