The University of Health and Allied Sciences has named its School of Public Health situated in Hohoe after its founding Vice Chancellor, Professor Fred Newton Binka. The School is now known as the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, i.e., “Binka School”.
As founding VC of UHAS, Prof. Binka oversaw the establishment of the initial major infrastructural projects in the university, including the School of Public Health in Hohoe, where he continues to teach, mentor and lead as a research professor in clinical epidemiology well into his retirement years.
His passion for public health and his desire to see the establishment of an internationally recognized school of public health fuelled his continuous involvement in developing the School and expanding its portfolio, including the establishment of the MPH, MPhil and Ph.D. programmes that are rapidly gaining wide recognition.
Prof. Binka is currently leading the establishment of strong international partnerships to bring inward investments to support the next stage of the School’s growth. As an internationally renowned expert in his field, Prof. Binka has published widely and served on the editorial boards of numerous peer-reviewed journals. Outside UHAS, the “action man” has a tall list of ground-breaking achievements to his credit.
Speaking at the naming ceremony in Hohoe, current Vice Chancellor Professor John O. Gyapong said Prof. Binka’s contribution to UHAS, as the founding VC as well as a member of faculty, cannot be quantified. He noted that Prof. Binka was the right force the University needed at its budding stage to help grow it to its current enviable status. He explained that it is not unprecedented to name a school after a notable personality, citing several top-class universities that have done the same, and said Prof. Binka is worth celebrating.
In response to the honour conferred on him, Prof. Binka promised to continue to support the University’s growth and pledged his family’s support through sponsorship of 10 Ph.D. students at the School to augment its strength. He also donated research equipment, earmarked for studying the ebola virus, to the School.
The colourful ceremony was well attended by traditional leaders, Prof. Binka’s family and friends, faculty and staff of UHAS.