The Ensign Global College, a private tertiary institution located in Kpong in the Eastern Region of Ghana, and renowned for training global leaders in public health, has held a public lecture as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations.

Over the past decade, the College has shaped minds and positively impacted its host community, Kpong.

Through its mission of raising highly skillful, visionary, ethical, and professional leaders to function as change agents, the College has raised hundreds of graduates into the global society to make contributions towards global health.

To mark a decade of this achievement, the College on Friday, November 15, 2024 held a lecture aimed at creating the platform for the institution to highlight its impact on the host community over the past ten years.

The anniversary lecture addressed issues in three key thematic areas including its impact on the Kpong community, global surgery and community engagements.

Dr. Edward Kofi Sutherland, speaking on the topic, ‘Global Surgery,’ quoted global figures to buttress his point. He indicated that some five billion persons living with surgical conditions do not have access to treatment with 18 million affected persons dying as a result of the situation.

“There’s a need for us to be able to make safe and timely surgical care assessable and available to a lot of people,” said Dr. Sutherland, adding that data suggests that some nine out of ten people in Africa die annually due to lack of access to safe and timely surgical care.

As part of efforts to address the situation, Ensign Global College through its health to go initiative rolled out in collaboration with the district health directorate has over the past decade undertaken a key intervention in the Kpong community to offer surgical attention to persons living with breast and cervical cancer as well as creating awareness among the people.

Ensign college has also conducted surgical training and education as well as research and innovation.

Dr. Stephen Manortey, Head of Academic Programs at Ensign speaking on the impact the college has made on the Kpong community over the past decade during his presentation said the establishment of the College has not only changed the landscape of the Kpong community but also placed the community on the globe.

He cited community engagement as a crucial aspect of public health, adding that ensign is committed and dedicated to training leaders committed to community service, adding that the College has trained several students who are working in key positions in Ghana and beyond.

On her part, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Director of Health Services, Mrs. Irina Offei speaking on community engagements, explained that the College's efforts to position itself as a topnotch institution serves as a catalyst towards its community engagements.

Over the past decade, Ensign Global College has had a significant impact on Kroboland and beyond with the College partnering with the municipal health directorates to promote health through various activities such as health screening activities. 

She said, "Ensign College's overarching vision to establish itself as a world-class academic institution of excellence in the field of public health serves as the foundation for the institution's commitment to community engagement."

According to Mrs Offei, Ensign Global College, as a public health institution, places great emphasis on community engagement and actively collaborates with various sectors annually.

Some of the activities include the Leadership Corp Program, which offers students the opportunity to volunteer in public health institutions in the Manya Krobo municipality as well as their respective communities, the Applied Practice Experience where students are required to complete an internship with a public health institution, Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Project where Ensign Global College partners with the health directorate in Lower Manya and Yilo Krobo to raise awareness about women's health.

Others include Menstrual Hygiene, Nutrition Education, Oklebenor Awareness Project, Maternity Waiting Home Project, a Visit to the Mepe Flood and Health2Go Project.

On his part, President of the Ensign Global College spoke about the three pillars of Ensign: Leadership, Professionalism and Entrepreneurship.

On entrepreneurship, he said, “We live in an imperfect world, instead of seeing hundreds and hundreds of problems, look at it as hundreds and hundreds of opportunities,” he told the students.

Long-serving personalities rewarded

The College as part of its anniversary celebrations honoured its top management personalities and long-serving staff, for their invaluable contributions and support to the community outreach activities of the College over the decade.

Your willingness to provide leadership to our students has shaped our journey to academic excellence and educational impact.  

Some of the recipients included Mrs. Lynette Gay, in recognition of her visionary leadership, dedication, invaluable contributions and as Founder and Board Chair of Ensign Global College. 

College President, Prof. Stephen Alder, was also awarded in recognition of a decade of exceptional leadership, service, dedication and invaluable contribution as the President and Inaugural Board Member.

Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, Togbe Afede XIV and Prof Tsiri Agbenyega, all Board Members, were also honoured for their visionary leadership, dedication, invaluable contributions and unwavering commitment in shaping the foundation of Ensign Global College.

Others include Mr. Patrick Kuma, Registrar, Dr. Stephen Manortey, Head of Program, Stephen Kwesi Amakye, Lands & Facilities Manager, Vanatus Kwadjo Fosu, College Librarian, Emmanuel Kwarteng, Book Store Manager, Edward Sam, Finance Manager and Rebecca Ametepey, College Nurse.

The rest are Felix Asem, IT Manager, Christian Dornyo, Asst. LFM, Diana Akweley Addo, Hostel Supervisor, Dr. Edward Kofi Sutherland, Lecturer, Michael Blay, Webmaster, Enid Ama Howard, Cook, Mrs Emelia Ahadjie, Stakeholder, Rema-Alma Company Limited, Stakeholder and Mrs Irina Offei, Stakeholder,