On Thursday, December 4, 2025, the Family Health University (FHU) Medical School graduated 43 new medical doctors.
This is the sixth cohort of medical students to graduate as doctors since the first batch in 2020.
Thirty medical students also graduated with BSc Medical Sciences degrees, as a prelude to a further three years of clinical training to qualify as doctors in 2028, Godwilling.
Additionally, a total of 245 Nurses and Midwives graduated, comprising 111 with BSc (Nursing) and 64 with BSc (Midwifery). Also graduating were 70 students on the Nurse Assistants Clinical course.
So far, the medical doctors’ table stands as follows: (i) 2020 – 30; (ii) 2021– 54; (iii) 2022 – 54; (iv) 2024 – 15; (v) 2025 (September) – 36; 2025 (December) – 43.
In my article titled “From Family Health University College to Family Health University” of December 2024, I stated as follows.
On Thursday, December 19, 2024, the Family Health University College (FHUC) received a Presidential Charter which converted the institution from a university college into a fully-fledged university, the “Family Health University.”
At a ceremony at the Jubilee House involving 14 institutions including the National Defence University, the Certificate-of-Charter was presented by the President to the Founders of Family Health, Professor Enyonam Yao Kwawukume and his wife Dr Susu Bridgitte Kwawukume. Also present were the Registrar, Mrs Rita Kaine and Chairman of Council, Brig. Gen. Dan Frimpong (Rtd).
As a university college, Family Health’s qualifications were awarded by a mentor institution, the University of Ghana, Legon. With the Charter, Family Health University is now autonomous and will award its own degees/diplomas/certificates.
Background
In my article of May 2024 titled “FHUC Medical School graduates 15 new doctors in ‘Round 4’ in May 2024,” I stated that:
Exactly six months to the day of the last graduation on 9 Nov 23, the Family Health University College (FHUC) Medical School on Thursday 9 May 2024, graduated its fourth batch of Medical Doctors.
Fifteen medical students who undertook the Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP) graduated as doctors.
The GEMP is a four-and-half year medical programme which starts at Level 300, offered graduates with a first degree in the Sciences.
The Regular Course for non-graduates takes six years.
In the Daily Graphic of 24 November 2023, I stated as follows:
On Thursday, November 9, 2023, 54 medical students of the FHUC Medical School graduated as medical doctors.
They comprised ten males and 44 females.
This is the third set of doctors the Medical School has produced.
The doctors included four Nigerians and one Pakistani.
In 2020, the first set of thirty doctors graduated. In 2021, the second set of 47 doctors graduated.
This brings to one hundred and 131 the number of doctors the Family Health Medical School has produced so far.
Also graduating were 200 BSc Nursing/BSc Midwifery students as well as Clinical Assistants students.
When I told an acquaintance of the graduation of doctors and nurses on November 9, 2023, he stated with surprise,
“I thought Family Health was only a hospital. I did not know it had a medical and nursing/midwifery schools.”
So, what is Family Health University College (FHUC)?
Located directly opposite the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Teshie, Accra, FHUC is a private medical facility comprising a hospital, a Nursing & Midwifery School and a Medical School.
The Family Health Medical School is Ghana’s premier private medical school.
FHUC is the brainchild of a medical-profession-couple, Professor Enyonam Yao Kwawukume, a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, and his wife Dr Susu Bridget Kwawukume, a Consultant Dermatologist.
It started modestly in 1997 as a Diagnostic Centre in a garage at 51 Guggisberg St, Korle Bu.
In 2007, it moved to its present permanent site overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and opposite Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Teshie.
As the hospital expanded, the need to train its own nurses saw the establishment of a Nursing and Midwifery Training School in 2009.
From its humble beginnings as a “backyard clinic,” FHUC in 2016 was given a University status, and formally became known as the Family Health University College.
The President of FHUC Prof Kwawukume added that “whether you are studying to become a nurse or doctor, here at Family Health University College, we operate as a big family unit.
As such all members are expected to conduct themselves and relate with each other with respect and dignity.”
He advised them to uphold the core values of Leadership, Integrity, Compassion, Commitment to Lifelong-learning, discipline and teamwork.
Discussion
On research and international cooperation, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kwawukume stated that;
“Our university continues to value collaboration as a bridge to excellence. As part of our student and staff exchange programmes, we hosted ten students and three faculty from the University of Virginia (UVA).
Our partnership with the University of Michigan (UM) through the Schweitzer Mich- Ghana Student Research Grant continues to raise ladders for the students.”
The Family Health University continues to produce medical doctors and nurses/midwives, as well as clinical assistants of the highest caliber and also a first-class hospital, as its modest contribution to national development. “
Now to the Nobel Foundation of Sweden, is it not time to consider the award of a Prize to Ghana’s Professor Yao and Dr (Mrs) Susu Brigitte Kwawukume for their medical contributions to humanity using Ghana as a microcosm?
Apart from founding the Family Health University comprising a Medical School, a Nursing & Midwifery Training School and a hospital, starting humbly as a “diagnostic centre” in 1977, the Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Professor Yao Kwawukume is said to be: “the first surgeon in the world to perform a Bloodless Myomectomy during a caesarian section using a tourniquet.
He also co-invented the Medical Eligibility Criteria WHEEL for Reproductive Health and Family Planning which is now used worldwide after approval and adoption by the WHO.”
Need I say more?
Congratulations to the 318 students comprising 43 doctors, 30 BSc Medical Sciences and 245 from the School of Nursing/Midwifery, who graduated on December 4, 2025.
Always remember the speech of the 2025 Valedictorian, Dr Millicent Quaye which concluded saying, “As we celebrate, let us go forward ready to make positive impact on our communities, our nation and the world.”
Long live the Family Health University! Long live Ghana!
Leadership, lead by example/integrity! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up!
The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association Nairobi, Kenya/Council Chairman, Family Health University, Accra.
E-mail: dkfrimpong@yahoo.com
