The UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC), a member-based trade association that promotes bilateral trade between the UK and Ghana, has donated GH¢50,000.00 to support the establishment of a clinical trials unit at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).
The funds were raised during the UKGCC’s recreation of the first Royal Ascot Ladies Day Experience Event.
At a short ceremony to present the donation, the Board Chairman of UKGCC, Anthony Pile, who is also the Founder of Blue Skies, said “we are hugely impressed with Lucy and her team. Embarking on this clinical trials unit project, I think, will make a difference not just to Ghana but frankly to all of us within the ECOWAS region.
It is something that the UKGCC feels very strongly about; supporting all elements, all aspects of advancing medical progress and I think this just illustrates the importance to both parties of how we feel about the work UGMC is doing.
I also feel that UKGCC is doing a great job now reaching out to those very many elements of Ghanaian industrial, social, and civil society to make the progress that is needed so importantly within Ghana," he stated.
For her part, the Chairperson of the UGMC Medical and Scientific Research Centre Fundraising Committee, Lucy Brimpong Ofori-Ayeh expressed her gratitude, on behalf of the Board of Directors, Management, and Staff of the UGMC.
The support, she remarked, “will go a long way to make a dream come true”.
She explained that most of the clinical trials that were being carried out for new medicines were done elsewhere, not in Africa, nor with African subjects and the genetic makeup of the trial participants were different from Africa.
"So this will be a chance for us to try the medicines that are coming on board with our own people to ensure the medicines are fit for purpose.
Again, there are so many herbal products in the country that could potentially cure many ailments, but the scientific trials have not been done. A proper clinical trials unit at UGMC can do these trials to international standards and help validate some of these treatments," she stated.
The UKGCC used the opportunity to appeal to other organisations and individuals to support the establishment of the centre which is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
About the UKGCC
The UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) was established in 2016 to promote bilateral trade between the UK and Ghana. It is the leading UK business support organisation in Ghana.
The UKGCC provides exceptional support for its members through the sharing of knowledge and ideas, creating platforms for building stronger networks and providing linkages with Government and its agencies. One of its key foci is to see Ghana become a significant economic partner for the UK as an export market, import source, investment destination and vice versa. It exists to further the business interests of its members across both countries and create more business opportunities.
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