University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) – Ho
The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) is a public university located in Ho, in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is one of the youngest public universities in the country, established to focus exclusively on health sciences education, research, and community service. Academic activities officially began in September 2012 with an initial intake of 154 students.
Establishment and Mandate
UHAS was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 828), which received presidential assent in December 2011. The university was created to train highly skilled health professionals and contribute to healthcare delivery, public health research, and national development.
Governance and Leadership
The university initially operated under an Interim Governing Council chaired by Professor Kofi Anyidoho. Its founding Vice-Chancellor was Professor Fred Newton Binka (2012–2016), followed by Professor John Owusu Gyapong (2016–2022).
In August 2022, Professor Lydia Aziato was appointed Vice-Chancellor, becoming the first woman and first nurse to hold the position in the history of UHAS.
Campuses
UHAS operates multiple campuses across the Volta Region, including:
- Ho Campus – the main administrative and academic campus (Perm Site Phases 1 & 2, Dave, and Trafalgar)
- Hohoe Campus – home to the School of Public Health
Schools and Institutes
The university comprises nine schools and three major institutes, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across the health sciences.
Schools
- School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences
- School of Allied Health Sciences
- School of Nursing and Midwifery
- Fred Newton Binka School of Public Health
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Medicine
- School of Sports and Exercise Medicine
- School of Graduate Studies
- UHAS Basic School
Institutes
- Institute of Health Research, with centres focusing on malaria, non-communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases, and health policy
- Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (ITAM)
- Institute of Medical Education
Academic Programmes
UHAS offers programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, including Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Midwifery, Public Health, Biomedical Sciences, Allied Health Sciences, and Sports and Exercise Medicine.
Directorates and Administration
Key directorates supporting university operations include:
- Academic Affairs
- Finance
- Human Resources
- ICT
- Library Services
- Public Affairs
- Quality Assurance
- Works and Physical Development
- Research Ethics Committee
Research and Ethics
The UHAS Research Ethics Committee (REC) oversees and approves all research involving staff, students, and human participants, ensuring ethical standards and participant welfare are upheld.
Rankings and Recognition
UHAS has gained national and international recognition for its academic and research performance. In 2021, it ranked second in Ghana and 36th in Africa in the AD Scientific Index. The university also achieved Ghana’s highest ranking in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being) in 2022.
