On Monday, January 5, 2026, Professor Nicole Bing, Chair of the Department of Communication Disorders at Governors State University (GSU), USA, paid a courtesy call on the Dean of the International Programmes Office (IPO), Professor Edmund Ekuadzi, at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Professor Bing was accompanied by Mr. Krobea Asante Adomako, Founder and Executive Director, and Mr. Dominic Baafi Adomako, Country Director of Affinity Access International, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving access to specialised healthcare, inclusive education, and capacity-building services for persons with disabilities and underserved communities. Professor Bing also serves as an International Consultant to the organisation.
The visit followed Professor Bing’s earlier engagement with the faculty of the School of Public Health, during which initial discussions were held on possible areas of collaboration. She explained that following her interaction with Dr. Paul Okyere, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Health Promotion and Education, several virtual meetings had been held to explore the development of a sustainable training model in Speech Therapy. The proposed model seeks to commence with certification programmes and progress towards the establishment of a fully developed Bachelor’s degree programme in Speech Therapy. The initiative aims to equip students with the requisite theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and clinical training to function effectively as speech-language interventionists in Ghana.
Professor Bing highlighted the significant shortage of speech-language pathologists in Ghana, noting that there are currently fewer than 50 practitioners nationwide. She emphasised the urgent need to train more professionals to improve access to services and enhance outcomes for persons with special needs and individuals affected by communication disorders.
In his remarks, Dr. Paul Okyere expressed his strong commitment to the initiative and highlighted the opportunity to strengthen the Rehabilitation component of the Disability and Rehabilitation Studies Programme, which has been limited since its inception in 2011. He noted that the collaboration would provide students with the competencies and clinical exposure required to obtain relevant certifications and licensure to practise as speech-language therapists.
Professor Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah, Head of the Department of Health Promotion and Education, affirmed the Department’s support for the initiative and stressed the importance of building faculty capacity as a key component of the training model to ensure sustainability.
Welcoming the delegation, Professor Edmund Ekuadzi underscored the importance of innovative and impactful collaborations aligned with KNUST’s internationalisation agenda. He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to the partnership, citing the Vice-Chancellor’s personal support for the initiative. Professor Ekuadzi proposed the use of KNUST’s E-Learning platform to support faculty capacity building and the delivery of training sessions. He further highlighted the importance of incorporating a student exchange component to provide international exposure and suggested that both parties jointly explore funding opportunities to support this aspect of the collaboration. He assured the delegation of the International Programmes Office’s full support to advance the initiative.
Also present at the meeting were Professor Mrs. Augustina Angelina Sylverken, Vice Dean; Mrs. Yvonne Baiden, Senior Assistant Registrar; Ms. Ernestine Oheneba Danso, Collaborations and Partnerships Officer; and Miss Patricia Frimpong Manso, Visibility and Communications Officer, all from the International Programmes Office.
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