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The Dignity Of Vision
A
Tribute to Professor Gilford Ashitey MD. The Medical
School , Ghana West Africa
By
Reverend Peter Eric Adotey 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 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.
Humbly Submitted,
Reverend Peter Eric Adotey Addo
Retired Professor of Biology and Religion
Greensboro, North Carolina
United States of America |
