May 5, 2026
The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) held its second Fireside Leadership Chat under the Oncology Leadership Programme (ONLEP) on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the Professor Anyidoho Auditorium, Trafalgar Campus, Ho. The event brought together students of Cohort 2 of ONLEP, UHAS faculty, staff and invited guests for an evening of reflection and inspiration.
Delivering the keynote on the theme “Leadership Across Borders”, Dr. Fiona Braka, WHO Ghana Representative, shared powerful insights from her leadership journey. She emphasized that “Leadership is service” and urged participants to embrace diversity, cross cultural borders and remain resilient in the face of challenges.
Dr. Braka recounted her experiences balancing family and career, overcoming barriers as a woman in leadership and seizing unexpected opportunities. With over two decades in public health, she highlighted her role in leading emergency response teams across 47 African countries and her frontline involvement in detecting the first case of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 in Nigeria
Her reflections underscored humility, empathy, integrity and mentorship as non-negotiable leadership values. She encouraged students to embrace lifelong learning, maximize educational opportunities and support one another, stressing that “leading across borders is not about crossing geography but expanding perspective.”
The Vice Chancellor of UHAS, Professor Lydia Aziato, praised the Fireside Chat as a platform to nurture future leaders, urging students to value small beginnings and learn from lived experiences. Dr. Braka was honored with a citation presented by Professor Aziato and Professor Margaret Gyapong of the UHAS Institute of Health Research (IHR).
Professor Peter Adatara, Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, emphasized the strategic importance of such engagements in grooming emerging leaders, noting that “the best way to learn is to learn from leaders who have gone through the mill.”
Mr. Amos Azure, a representative of Cohort 2 of ONLEP participants, applauded Dr. Braka’s thought-provoking presentation, describing it as a call to lead with courage, clarity and purpose.
The Fireside Leadership Chat affirmed UHAS’ dedication to cultivating ethical, competent and compassionate leaders in healthcare.