About Us
About Us · School of Medical Sciences · UCC Ghana
Our Story, Mission & People
From a visionary idea in the 1970s to one of Africa's finest medical schools — the School of Medical Sciences at UCC has grown into a globally recognised institution committed to excellence, ethics and community service.
● Our Story
Brief History of UCC School of Medical Sciences
From a 1970s vision to Africa's #1 medical school — a story of determination, community and academic excellence.
The idea to establish a Medical School at UCC was conceived in the mid-1970s by the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. J. Yanney-Ewusie, who indicated that the Faculty of Science could support a Medical School whenever a Regional Hospital was built in Cape Coast.
It was not until April 2003, when Vice Chancellor Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng set up an eleven-member committee chaired by Prof. V.P.Y. Gadzekpo to deliberate on the issue, that plans began in earnest. The committee was tasked to draft a curriculum, identify needs, provide a timeline for commencement and identify possible funding sources.
The committee co-opted members from nursing, medical professions and the health ministry of Ghana, receiving invaluable inputs from healthcare workers and Directors at various Ministry of Health facilities in the Central Region and Accra. Its proposal was presented to the Vice Chancellor on 22nd January 2004.
After approval by the Academic Board, University Council and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), an Implementation Committee was set up under Prof. Kobina Dodoo and the late Prof. E.C. Quaye to seek national approval, find partnerships and appoint a Coordinator.
These events culminated in the appointment of the Founding Dean Rev. Prof. H.S. Amonoo-Kuofi in August 2005. He recommended revision of the proposal to include an innovative, student-centred, community-oriented, integrated and problem-based curriculum. Maersk (Ghana) Limited donated $140,000 towards the anatomy laboratory, while Hon. Kennedy Agyapong and Agricultural Development Bank donated GHS25,000 and GHS10,000 respectively.
The matriculation of pioneering students and formal inauguration of the School took place in January 2008. In June 2009, a joint agreement was signed between SMS, the Central Regional Hospital, the Regional Health Administration and Ghana Health Services (GHS) to use the Central Regional Hospital as the main clinical teaching site.
In August 2013, the first batch of 42 medical doctors graduated from UCCSMS and were sworn in by the Medical and Dental Council, Ghana. The Regional Hospital was elevated to a Teaching Hospital through UCC/SMS advocacy in March 2014, becoming the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH).
UCC adopted the Collegiate System in August 2014, placing SMS and the School of Nursing and Midwifery under the College of Health and Allied Sciences (CoHAS). A School of Allied Health Sciences was added in August 2015.
Since the 2016/2017 academic year, the Department of Microbiology and Immunology has offered the first postgraduate programme — MPhil in Microbiology and Infection. The Departments of Surgery and Internal Medicine & Therapeutics have separately gained accreditation from the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons to begin clinical postgraduate training. Currently, four other departments have completed proposals for MPhil/PhD programmes.
Visionary Idea
Prof. J. Yanney-Ewusie conceives the idea of a Medical School at UCC.
Planning Committee
11-member committee set up under Prof. V.P.Y. Gadzekpo to draft curriculum and plan the school.
Founding Dean Appointed
Rev. Prof. H.S. Amonoo-Kuofi appointed as Founding Dean. PBL curriculum adopted. Maersk donates $140,000.
School Founded 🎉
Matriculation of pioneering students and formal inauguration of UCCSMS, January 2008.
Clinical Training Agreement
Joint agreement with Central Regional Hospital and GHS for clinical training.
First Graduates 🩺
42 pioneer medical doctors graduated and sworn in by the Medical and Dental Council, Ghana.
Teaching Hospital + CoHAS
Central Regional Hospital elevated to CCTH. SMS placed under College of Health & Allied Sciences.
Postgraduate Expansion
MPhil in Microbiology & Infection launched. Postgraduate clinical training accreditation for Surgery & Internal Medicine.
● Purpose & Direction
Mission, Vision & Core Values
Our Mission
To provide undergraduate, professional and postgraduate educational programmes of the highest quality and relevance in order to attract outstanding faculty and develop top students.
To conduct meaningful and excellent research that will improve the health of people and heighten the school's attractiveness to faculty and students.
To strengthen the school's national academic recognition and enhance its value to the nation as a whole.
To strengthen the faculty and financial resource base of the school.
To develop strong interdisciplinary programmes that link areas of strength within the faculty, and thereby enhance the school's competitiveness in research and medical practice.
To promote public awareness of the mission of the school.
Our Vision
"A School of Medical Sciences that is well positioned with a worldwide acclaim — producing doctors who are competent, ethical and globally competitive."
Core Values
● Teaching Philosophy
Our Curriculum Approach
Problem-Based Learning (PBL)
Students learn through real clinical cases and problems — developing critical reasoning, teamwork and self-directed learning from the very first year.
Community-Based Experience & Services (COBES)
Students are placed in rural and urban Ghanaian communities to apply medical knowledge in real-world settings — building empathy, public health competencies and social accountability.
Integrated Curriculum
3 years pre-clinical + 3 years clinical — fully integrated across basic sciences, clinical disciplines and community medicine into a coherent, systems-based programme.
Continuous Assessment
Regular quizzes, OSCE examinations, portfolio assessments and end-of-semester examinations ensure consistent academic monitoring and feedback throughout the programme.
● Recognition & Standards
Accreditation & Affiliations
UCCSMS is fully accredited and recognised by leading national and international bodies — ensuring our graduates can practice medicine globally.
Medical & Dental Council, Ghana
The MBChB programme is fully accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana — the national regulatory authority for medical education and practice.
National Accreditation Board (NAB)
All programmes are accredited by Ghana's National Accreditation Board, ensuring compliance with national tertiary education standards and quality assurance.
Ghana College of Physicians & Surgeons
Departments of Surgery and Internal Medicine & Therapeutics are accredited by the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons for postgraduate clinical specialist training.
International Recognition
UCCSMS graduates are recognised globally — including by medical councils in the UK (GMC), USA (ECFMG), Canada and other jurisdictions — enabling international practice.
● Partners & Affiliates
Collaborations & Partnerships
SMS-UCC collaborates with leading national and international institutions to strengthen research, clinical training and academic excellence.
Cape Coast Teaching Hospital
Primary clinical training site — on-campus tertiary referral hospital.
Ghana Health Service (GHS)
Joint clinical training and community health service agreements.
Ghana College of Physicians & Surgeons
Postgraduate clinical specialist training accreditation.
Medical & Dental Council, Ghana
Programme accreditation and graduate licensing authority.
BCRC · UCC
Biomedical and Clinical Research Centre — joint research and postgraduate training.
International Partner Universities
Collaborations with universities in Europe, North America and across Africa for research and faculty exchange.
Interested in partnering with SMS-UCC?
We welcome institutional collaborations, research partnerships and academic exchange programmes from local and international organisations.
School of Medical Sciences
University of Cape Coast, Ghana
info@uccsms.edu.gh
Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana
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