The Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) welcomed a team of Assessors and Monitors from the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), on Monday, 10 August and Wednesday, 12 August 2026.

The engagement formed part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s capacity to conduct high-quality clinical trials and support the development of a more robust national clinical research ecosystem. The team worked with KCCR to pilot the Clinical Trial Institution Capability Self-Assessment Tool, an important instrument for understanding institutional readiness, identifying capacity gaps, and highlighting areas for improvement.

During the engagement, the assessors and monitors held discussions with KCCR representatives and reviewed key areas related to the Centre’s clinical trial capabilities. The sessions provided an opportunity for constructive dialogue, benchmarking, and knowledge sharing, while allowing KCCR to reflect on its existing systems and identify opportunities to further strengthen its clinical research capacity.

The team also undertook a tour of KCCR’s facilities, including its research and laboratory infrastructure. The tour provided an opportunity for the visiting team to gain a better understanding of KCCR’s research environment, ongoing activities, and capabilities supporting clinical and biomedical research.

The engagement also highlighted the importance of collaboration between national institutions and international partners in strengthening Ghana’s clinical research landscape. By identifying institutional strengths and areas requiring further development, the self assessment process can contribute to improved systems, efficiency, quality, and sustainability in the conduct of clinical trials. KCCR remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen clinical research capacity and contribute to the development of a more resilient and internationally competitive clinical trials ecosystem in Ghana