A Tribute To Professor Gilford Ashitey, MD: Ghana Medical School

By Rev. Peter Addotey Addo
 
We join in celebrating over Forty years of Visionary work at the Ghana Medical School by Our Beloved Professor and Brother. Thanks to the visionary efforts of Medical giants in Community health Services, like Professor Gilford A Ashitey,we can safely say that through his dedication and work ,our Beloved Ghana is close to entering a new era. The reality today in Ghana is that living longer is becoming more of a certainty , and more than that ,planning for it is more or less a necessity. Professor Ashitey saw this day coming before many Ghanaians realized that significant demographic, technological, and social changes were taking place. All of these changes challenged the traditional methods and procedures of the Ghana Public Health Services. We are indeed fortunate that we have been blessed with Professor Ashitey who has always had vision and foresight. He has always been a person of vision and a man of dignity.

This was even apparent during our Young School days at Osu Salem. Even then he had a profound passion for excellence and this is how Prof Ashitey will always be remembered: A humble man of great religious Faith and Vision. He returned to his beloved Ghana at the appropriate time in Ghana Medical History and without any haste helped in the control of the 7th Pandemic of Cholera from Asia to West Africa in the 1970s.Through teaching and numerous assignments and Projects in Family Planning as an Epidemiologist he traveled the world and was cited on numerous occasions by WHO.

Whatever the position, project, assignment, task, or challenge Prof Ashitey always demonstrated a passion for perfection ,always experiencing or receiving great satisfaction serving as a teacher, mentor, administrator and seeing his students developing into effective and competent public health professionals. Dr. Ashitey believes that there is no greater calling more vital to our beloved Ghana and our developing democratic society than that of teacher, mentor, and seeing students develop into dedicated and competent Public Health professionals. There are many ways to contribute to a strong and viable medical culture in Ghana.

One of the best ways is the path chosen by Professor Ashitey to help prepare medical students who will reach and serve future generations.We believe that this is why Professor Ashitey stands out as a medical giant committed to programs that help young students prepare for the future, to that task he never retreated.

To family, friends and professional colleagues around the world,Prof Ashitey has been a Man of Vision, Our Mentor and a friend. His Intelligence, Honesty Integrity, and Wit have earned him the profound respect, admiration and friendship of family, associates, peers and competitors. His Lifelong achievements will certainly continue to impress,inspire and motivate others for generations to come. We salute you Professor Ashitey for having the courage of your vision for forty years to encourage all Ghanaians to improve and maintain the efficacy and law of the Community Health Services in our Beloved Ghana.

"Indeed where there is no vision the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 20:18.
Osofo


Submitted 29th Jan 2010 by GrownUps Member: Osofo