Mahama opens 66th WACS Conference, calls for stronger surgical capacity in West Africa

President John Dramani Mahama has called for sustained investment in surgical capacity across West Africa, describing access to safe and timely surgery as critical to health outcomes, human dignity, and economic productivity.

He made the call on Monday, February 9, 2026, while officially opening the 66th Annual Conference of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS), which has brought together surgeons, medical professionals, researchers, policymakers,s and health stakeholders from across the sub-region and beyond.

The conference is being held under the theme “Capacity Building in Surgery for Improved Health Outcomes in West Africa.”

Delivering the keynote address, President Mahama noted that despite progress in specialist training, access to safe surgical care remains a major challenge in many parts of the region.

“Surgical emergencies require timely access to safe and quality care if we are to save lives and prevent unnecessary disability across our region. Surgery is not a luxury. It is an essential component of a functioning health system and a foundation for national development,” he said.

He stressed that improving surgical outcomes requires a holistic approach that goes beyond training more surgeons.

“Capacity building in surgery goes beyond increasing the number of surgeons. We must strengthen anaesthesia services, diagnostics, blood supply systems, critical care units, sterile supply chains, and referral networks if surgery is to be safe, effective, and equitable,” President Mahama stated.

The President reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to advancing specialist training, improving health infrastructure, and strengthening healthcare delivery across the sub-region. In recognition of his support for surgical development and regional health collaboration, he was named Grand Patron and Honorary Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons.

President Mahama also raised concerns about the increasing migration of health professionals, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the sustainability of health systems across Africa.

“We must confront the renewed migration of our skilled health professionals, which is placing increasing pressure on our health systems. Governments must take deliberate steps to improve working conditions, create structured career pathways, and give our health workers the recognition they deserve.”

The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, in a separate address, emphasised that surgery must be treated as a core pillar of national health systems rather than an optional service.

“Safe surgery does not happen in isolation. It depends on system readiness, reliable infrastructure, blood services, intensive care units, diagnostics, and strong clinical governance,” the Health Minister said.

He noted that even the most skilled surgeons are constrained without functional systems to support their work.

“These are not secondary considerations. They are the infrastructure of safety, and without them, even the best surgical skills are placed at risk,” Mintah Akandoh added.

Commending WACS for promoting global standards through regional collaboration, the Minister disclosed that a surgical outreach programme linked to the conference delivered 855 surgeries across 11 hospitals in six regions of Ghana.

“This outreach demonstrates what is possible when expertise, planning, and collaboration come together to serve our people,” he said.

Addressing health worker retention, Mintah Akandoh called for improved conditions of service and stronger engagement with the medical diaspora.

“Capacity is not only about numbers. It is about quality, mentorship, accountability, and creating an environment that encourages our professionals to stay, serve, and return.”

The 66th Annual Conference of the West African College of Surgeons is expected to deepen collaboration among practitioners and policymakers while shaping future strategies to strengthen surgical care and improve health outcomes across West Africa.

By: Bawa Musah

Read also…