Reflections by Godfrey Gaisie UGMS class of 1972. (With input from Dean, Prof Yawson)
QUESTION: What are the chances of a candidate with a perfect score (‘Eight A’s at the WAEC, SSS exams’) getting into UGMS?
Just before I left for Ghana in January of 2024, an acquaintance of mine told me of an SSS student that has applied to UGMS with Seven A’s and One B score. I was blown away by this excellence in performance and figured he should have no difficulty getting admitted. On later discussions with Dean Yawson, a shocking revelation came up.
UGMS, being the premier medical school in Ghana is sought by all the bright students. But UGMS has a maximum capacity of between 180 and 200 new students every year, and each year there are more than 300 applicants with a perfect score. Yes, straight A’s in all 8 subjects, looking for admission to UGMS, meaning well over 100 of these perfect score applicants will not get admission to UGMS. This apparently has been a chronic occurrence resulting from inadequate infrastructure (classrooms, simulation labs, etc.) to meet the needs for well-trained doctors.
This has been a source of difficulty for both teaching staff and parents, a few of whom were at the Dean’s office during my visit, to seek answers to the rejection of their perfect score children.
The above brings into sharp focus the objectives of the newly formed Alumni Foundation if it becomes adequately funded. As alumni we can play our part by, at least one thousand of us contributing $1000.00 each to create an initial endowment of $1 million. As the fund grows through capital appreciation and future contributions, we can proudly help our beloved Alma Mater improve these infrastructure needs to meet the needs for well-trained medical doctors, as a way of giving back. Let’s all please come together to meet our initial endowment goal in the year 2024. This is our generation’s Legacy Project for which we will be remembered for eternity.
I am always inspired by the impressive examples set by many Alumni Foundations in the USA. With just a little, but collective effort on our part we also can play a very important role in supporting this great school that helped to make us who we are today.
As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. This is our first step. We need all of us to contribute to this first step.
May God bless our Alma Mater, and may God bless you all. Thank you.