Government is to rename the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) after late President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, who established the school in 2012.

Government considers this gesture as ‘a posthumous honour’ for his contribution as a Statesman, a former President of the Republic and a former academic of repute.

Therefore, UHAS in due course, will be known as ‘Professor John Evans Atta Mills University of Health and Allied Sciences.’

The Minister of Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, made the announcement during the official inauguration of the third substantive Governing Council of UHAS at a brief but highly significant ceremony in Accra, Wednesday.

The Minister extended the President’s hearty congratulations to the members of Council.

He said the commitment to expand infrastructure in institutions of higher learning to increase student intake remained the desire of the political administration.

He said the Government would complete all ongoing projects at the Hohoe and Ho campuses, including the UHAS laboratory complex, through GETFund’s interventions for this year.

Mr Iddrisu said an assurance has been received from the Minister of Roads and Highways for the construction of the UHAS internal roads as part of an extended initiative for the improvement of university roads across the country.

Chairman of Council, Professor Kodzo Gavua, in his acceptance speech, extended a profound gratitude to the President, the Minister of Education and the entire government for the confidence repose in the membership to serve in this new capacity towards the attainment of the vision of UHAS.

He said, among others, UHAS was one of the legacies that the NDC government left for the people of Ghana, Africa and the entire world.

Professor Gavua gave the assurance that under his leadership, the Council would work with the Government and the Management of the University to surmount the many challenges confronting the University of which accommodation is chief among them.

He said, “I will like to say with confidence that we shall work as a team base on mutual trust and respect to build upon what our forebearers have left, to ensure that UHAS does not only become a model university but a leading healthcare training institution in Ghana, across Africa and the world at large.”

The newly inaugurated Council consists of notable academicians, professionals, industry leaders and governance experts with membership as Professor Kodzo Gavua (Chairman), Professor Lydia Aziato (Vice-Chancellor, UHAS), Professor Mark Appiah (Member), Professor Emeritus Fred N. Binka (Member), Mr. Selorm Dey Esq. (Member), Dr. Kenneth Tachie  (Member), Daniel Nii Noi Ashong, CA (Member), Dr. Edmund Nibeneeh Aalangdong (Representative of GTEC), Mr. Charles Evans Apreku (Representative of CHASS).

Others are; Professor Peter Adarara (Representative of Convocation), Mr. Israel Tordzro Agudze (Representative of Convocation) Mr. Gabriel Agbanyo (Representative of UHAS Alumni Association), Mr. Jeffery Nii Otu Larkai (Representative of Senior Staff Association), Dr. Felix Kwasi Nyande (Representative of UTAG), Mr. Dimado Felix Dolla (Representative of GRASAG), Mr. Sefah Michael Debrah (Representative of SRC), Miss Yaa Amankwaa Opuni (Registrar/ Secretary) of the Council.

The Council comes at a time, when the only Ghanaian state university solely committed to healthcare professional training is consolidating its gains as a global practically-orientated pre-eminent health institution dedicated to impactful research and community service.

Prof.  Gavua, is a distinguished archaeologist, heritage scholar, and academic administrator with a career spanning over three decades in higher education, research, and national cultural policy leadership.

He holds a PhD in Archaeology and an MA in African Archaeology from the University of Calgary, Canada, as well as an MA in International Affairs and a BA (Hons) in Archaeology and Philosophy from the University of Ghana. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at the University of Ghana and has previously served as Dean of the School of Arts and Head of Department.

Prof. Gavua has led or participated in over 20 national and international research projects, including collaborations with institutions such as The British Museum, the University of Rochester, and the University of Balearic Islands. His scholarly work has been widely published in international journals and edited volumes, contributing significantly to the global discourse on African heritage, restitution, and memory.

In public service, Prof. Gavua has served on the Governing Council of the University of Ghana, chaired the Ghana Heritage Committee, led Ghana’s Focal Team on Restitution and Reparation, and acted as Chair of the Board of the National Theatre of Ghana.

He has also consulted for institutions like The British Museum and held several visiting scholar positions at globally recognized universities including the University of Exeter, University of Bristol, and Indiana University. A committed educator, he has taught and supervised at undergraduate and graduate levels, mentoring over 80 students through long essays, MPhil theses, and PhD dissertations.

Prof. Gavua is a member of several professional associations.

His appointment as Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Health and Allied Sciences brings to the institution a wealth of experience in academic governance, research leadership, and a deep commitment to the preservation and promotion of African heritage.