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Students and innovators at the Academic City University have showcased groundbreaking solutions aimed at transforming healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Among the innovations on display at the 2025 Medical Innovation Expo were robotic rehabilitation devices to aid children with mobility challenges, AI-powered assistive tools that help the visually and hearing impaired to communicate more effectively, and smart diagnostic systems designed to detect diseases such as malaria, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.
Last Tuesday’s medical innovation expo, organised in collaboration with Northeastern University in the United States, brought together students, researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry stakeholders on the theme: “New Paradigms in Healthcare Technology”.
The event sought to promote collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector in building a sustainable and technology-driven healthcare system.
The President of Academic City University College, Prof. Fred McBagonluri, called on policymakers and industry stakeholders to invest in homegrown healthcare innovations and technology-driven solutions to strengthen Ghana’s health system and reduce dependence on imported medical equipment.
Participants
Prof. McBagonluri expressed concern over Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported medical equipment, which he said cost the country, a situation he described as unsustainable and a major barrier to innovation.
“In 2025, we are still buying plaster and other basic medical devices from abroad.
This dependency not only drains our resources but also limits opportunities for local engineers, researchers, and manufacturers. It’s time to build our own capacity to design, produce and maintain what we use, " he said.
An innovator himself, Prof. McBagonluri added that the partnership between Academic City and Northeastern University reflected a shared vision to develop globally competitive innovators who could design locally relevant healthcare technologies.
“This collaboration is helping us empower students with the knowledge, research experience, and global exposure they need to build transformative healthcare solutions,” he said.
The Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Academic City University, Dr Hephzi Tagoe, highlighted the department’s contributions to healthcare technology and research.
She explained that the Biomedical Engineering programme, one of the youngest at the institution, had already produced graduates who were developing impactful projects.
“Our students are creating assistive devices for the visually and hearing impaired, AI-powered communication tools, and rehabilitation technologies for children.
They are also developing advanced diagnostic systems to improve disease detection, including projects focused on malaria, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s," she said.
Dr Tagoe added that the department was pursuing both local and international collaborations to help move these innovations from research laboratories into practical healthcare solutions that could benefit communities.
Also speaking at the expo, the immediate past Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, Prof. Alex Dodoo, emphasised the need for robust policies and regulatory frameworks to support innovation, while ensuring safety and quality in healthcare delivery.
“As artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital tools transform global health care, our regulatory systems must evolve to reflect local realities. Innovation must go hand in hand with standards to ensure that technologies are safe, effective, and inclusive," he said.
Prof. Dodoo also urged regulators to act as facilitators rather than barriers to innovation.
“No company sets out to break the law; our responsibility is to support innovators to comply and thrive rather than penalise them when they fall short,” the pharmaceutical innovator added.
