Renowned Ghanaian Professor of Surgery, Professor Lade Wosornu, has called for a national policy to retain experienced medical professionals beyond the mandatory retirement age in order to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare delivery system.
Speaking at the 2025 Lecture in the Sciences organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences on October 23, Professor Wosornu stressed that the complexities of modern healthcare demand the presence of seasoned practitioners whose expertise can guide younger professionals and improve patient outcomes.
“It is my considered opinion that the state must exempt medical professionals from the mandatory retirement age of 60, as applies to other public sector workers,” he said.
“My experiences as a postgraduate student in the UK and as a practitioner across three continents show that experience is critical in the highly complex field of medicine to guide the next generations for optimum outcomes.”
Professor Wosornu, who is also an author and poet, further urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to integrate local languages into the basic school curriculum. He argued that the use of indigenous languages alongside English would help instil cultural values and strengthen the moral foundation of future leaders.
“The education landscape is changing with the onset of digital technology and artificial intelligence. I would advocate for the GES to make it policy to include local languages in school curricula alongside English to impart our traditional values into the moral fibre of the young ones we are shaping for the leadership of tomorrow,” he said.
Chairman for the event, Professor Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, commended Professor Wosornu’s lifelong contribution to medicine, describing him as a distinguished professional whose career has brought glory to Ghana.
“The field of medicine is ever changing with innovation and technology simplifying diagnosis and treatment. However, the real-world experience of seasoned professionals like Professor Wosornu remains invaluable,” he noted.
“State actors must deliberately leverage the expertise of this generation of medical experts to help train and mentor young professionals and enrich the entire health value chain.”
The lecture, themed “The Provision of Space for Implantable Prosthetic Lungs: A Genesis, Envoy and Healing Word,” was attended by members of the Academy, students from selected senior high schools, journalists, and members of the general public.
–
Story by Sika Togoh|univers.ug.edu.gh