The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has held the 10th edition of the John Evans Atta Mills Leadership Lecture Series, with a strong focus on reproductive health challenges in Africa.
The event took place on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Cedi Auditorium on the university’s main campus at Sokode-Lokoe in Ho, under the theme: “From Knowledge to Action: Bridging Africa’s Reproductive Health Gap – The Role of Health Training Institutions.”
The annual lecture series was instituted to honour former President John Evans Atta Mills, whose administration facilitated the establishment of UHAS in 2011.
The Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Prof. Lydia Aziato, described the late Prof. Mills as a credible academic, statesman and visionary leader whose impact on education and healthcare remains significant.
She urged young people to focus on education, discipline and responsible reproductive health decisions.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Frank Edwin, said the lecture series remains an important platform for reflection on leadership and national development.
He noted that reproductive health continues to be one of Africa’s major challenges and said health training institutions must move beyond theory to practical action that improves lives.
The guest lecturer for the occasion was Dr Eunice Brookman-Amissah, former Ghana Ambassador to the Netherlands, member of the Council of State and a well-known reproductive health advocate.
In her presentation, she highlighted major concerns including maternal mortality, unsafe abortions, teenage pregnancy and weak healthcare systems across the continent.
She said Africa records about 6.2 million unsafe abortions each year, a situation that contributes significantly to maternal deaths.
She also noted that in Ghana alone, more than 110,000 teenage pregnancies were recorded within a year.
Dr Brookman-Amissah called for stronger healthcare systems, wider public awareness of Ghana’s abortion laws and greater investment in comprehensive sexuality education.
She stressed that reproductive health should be treated as a human rights issue and called on governments, educational institutions, religious bodies and civil society to work together to improve access to services.
The lecture also touched on other sensitive issues, including LGBTQI+ discussions and the need for informed public dialogue.
The event ended with a renewed call for stronger advocacy, policy implementation and public education to improve reproductive healthcare outcomes across Africa.
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