The Advisory Board of the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine paid a courtesy visit to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace on April 22, 2026, to strengthen ties and provide updates on the center’s leadership and strategic direction.
The visit served as an opportunity for Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo to announce his appointment as Chairman of the Advisory Board formally. He indicated that he deemed it important to personally inform His Majesty as a sign of respect and recognition.
During the visit, Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Chairman of the Advisory Board, informed His Majesty about the conclusion of the tenure of the current Director of KCCR, Prof. Richard Odame Phillips. He noted that processes are underway for the appointment of a new Director to lead the Centre into its next phase.
In his remarks, Professor Phillips expressed his sincere gratitude to Asantehene for his guidance, counsel, and unwavering support throughout his tenure. Otumfuo commended him for his dedication and service to KCCR, acknowledging his commitment over the years. His Majesty also emphasised the importance of appointing a capable successor to sustain the Centre’s impact.
The Asantehene further highlighted KCCR’s significant contributions to the Ashanti Region and Ghana, particularly its critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic. He commended key partners, including the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, for their continued collaboration and encouraged the strengthening of these partnerships.
The delegation included distinguished members of the Advisory Board and stakeholders such as Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; Prof. Juergen May, Chairman of the BNITM Foundation; Dr. Denise Dekker, Chair of the Committee on Research in the Tropics at BNITM; Dr. Adam Taher Hafez, Director for Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health; and Prof. Akwasi Antwi-Kusi, Dean of the School of Medical Sciences.
The visit reaffirmed KCCR’s strong relationship with traditional leadership and its continued commitment to advancing research, innovation, and public health in Ghana and beyond.
