The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has hosted a high‑level stakeholder meeting involving international and local partners as part of ongoing efforts to enhance cancer treatment delivery in Ghana under the SAPPHIRE Project.
The Supra‑African Physics Partnership for Health Innovation and Radiotherapy Expansion (SAPPHIRE) is a two‑year programme funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The initiative aims to address the persistent shortage of highly trained medical physicists and radiation oncologists, as well as the frequent breakdowns of linear accelerator (LINAC) machines in Africa.
The strategic engagement convened Ghanaian project partners from GAEC, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. It also included officials of the UK funding organizations; UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), and the Institute of Physics (IoP). Joining online for the meeting was SAPPHIRE project partners from the University of Oxford (Manjit Dosanjh), University of Cambridge (Rajesh Jena), Lancaster University (Graeme Burt) and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria (Lutendo Nethwadzi).
Discussions focused on improving the efficiency, reliability, and long‑term sustainability of LINAC systems used in cancer therapy.
Speaking on behalf of the Ghanaian partners, the Deputy Director‑General of GAEC, Prof. Francis Hasford welcomed the UK delegation and expressed appreciation for the funding support and collaborative efforts aimed at advancing cancer care in Africa and other low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
The Ghanaian partners provided an overview of the project, highlighting its goal of reducing equipment down time, establishing training network for radiotherapy professionals, with special focus on females, and equipping trainees with practical tools and advanced technical knowledge of LINAC component systems. In a presentation led by Prof. Eric Addison (Head of Physics, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital), they also highlighted the functional aspects of the Redmine computer software, used for automating fault data collection on the LINAC systems and the long-term goal of developing robust LINAC systems for LMICs.
The UK delegation comprising Michele Dougherty (Executive Chair of STFC and Astronomer Royal), Tom Grinyer (CEO of IoP), Louis Barson (Director IoP), Jason Green (Assistant Director of UKRI) and Dominic Hurley (Head of International Relations, IOP) expressed strong optimism regarding the project’s success and commended the ongoing work by the SAPPHIRE team to improve access to quality cancer treatment.
In closing, Dr. Hannah Ayettey, Director of the Radiotherapy Centre of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, thanked the UK delegation on behalf of the project partners and assured of Ghana’s utmost commitment to the project objectives.
Participants at the meeting included Michele Dougherty (Executive Chair of STFC and Astronomer Royal), Tom Grinyer (CEO of IoP), Louis Barson (Director IoP), Jason Green (Assistant Director, UKRI) and Dominic Hurley (Head of International Relations, IoP), Francis Hasford (Deputy Director General, GAEC), Eric Addison (Head of Physics, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital), Hannah Ayettey (Director of the Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital), Dr. Theodosia Adom (Director of the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute, GAEC), Prof. Shirazu Issahaku (Registrar of the Allied Health Professions Council of Ghana), William Srekumah (Director of Administration of GAEC), Anthony Nana Boateng (Director of the Commercialization and Communication Directorate, GAEC), Dr. Mark Sarfo (Head of Communication and Public Relations, GAEC), Mr. Ernest Yeboah Accountant, RAMSRI), Manjit Dosanjh (University of Oxford & CERN), Rajesh Jena (University of Cambridge), Graeme Burt (Lancaster University, and Lutendo Nethwadzi (Steve Biko Academic Hospital).
By: CPRC/CCD
