A delegation from KfW, the German development agency, has visited Ho Technical University (HTU) to assess progress on the Biomedical Engineering Centre of Excellence Project, being implemented under the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) through AUDA‑NEPAD.
The team was led by Ms. Dzigbordi Ahuma, SIFA Projects Coordinator, and included Dr. Achim Jaup, KfW Technical Expert, and Ms. Hannah Roth, Deputy Country Manager of KfW Ghana. They were received by Vice Chancellor Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga, management, and the HTU project team.
Briefing the visitors, the Vice Chancellor noted that all project equipment has been received and is ready for installation once the ongoing extension and renovation works on the Electrical/Electronic Engineering Block are completed. He thanked KfW and the German Government for their support and emphasized the importance of staff training to ensure effective use of the facility.
HTU Project Team Lead, Dr. Jennifer Adaletey, explained that the initiative is designed to improve employability through hands‑on training in biomedical equipment maintenance and repair. She appealed for a no‑cost extension to ensure full implementation and suggested exploring linkages with the German biomedical industry to strengthen sustainability.
The delegation inspected the equipment and toured the construction site to evaluate progress of work and expressed satisfaction with developments so far, urging speedy completion to enable installation of the delivered equipment.
Ms. Dzigbordi Ahuma commended HTU’s commitment to the project despite initial delays. She stressed that the Centre, being the first of its kind in Ghana, will be commissioned in grand style with partners and government officials in attendance.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW, under the African Union’s Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) and implemented by AUDA‑NEPAD, the project is expected to redefine biomedical engineering training in Ghana, reduce reliance on foreign expertise, and position HTU as a hub for advanced technical education.
