NEW YEAR MESSAGE  TO THE WACP – 2023

Season’s greetings to all our Fellows, Members, and administrative staff of our noble College. I am truly humbled and excited to give you this new-year’s message for the first time as your President. First, I would like to congratulate the immediate past President, Dr. Durodami Radcliffe Lisk, and his team for all the successes of the College during their tenure. I would also want to congratulate the Ghana Chapter of the College for hosting such a marvelous and memorable AGSM.
As we begin a new year, I want to encourage you to continue with the momentum you have had thus far. We have successfully kept COVID-19 in check in the region, and are seeing semblances of recovery from the effects of Covid 19. By all indications, we are somewhat in a recovery phase. COVID-19, however, is still wreaking havoc in some parts of the world and we should remain steadfast and vigilant to avoid the disruptions experienced in the past, such as lockdowns and travel restrictions. It has also been noted, with concern, that the disruptions due to COVID-19 also led to the re-emergence of other conditions such as measles. Additionally, with our focus shifted towards fighting these infectious diseases, the prevention and control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) has been secondary, with many in the subregion becoming disabled or even killed as a result. Therefore, I urge you to broaden your perspective of the conditions that need our attention and wisely distribute our limited resources.
Computer-based examinations are now the ‘new normal and I look forward to a time when every member country can conduct computer-based testing locally. This will certainly help attract more candidates and make examinations a lot easier and more affordable.
Almost every economy in the world has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the war in Ukraine, and funding for the smooth running of the College, and Local Chapters, has dwindled significantly. I, therefore, implore you to come up with innovative ways of resource mobilization. One way of sustaining the work of our college is to complete the College Building. In this regard, I would like to assure you that my team and I will work tirelessly to ensure that the building project is completed in a timely manner to improve the College’s coffers. We cannot do this without the involvement of every Fellow and Member of this noble College. I want to thank all those that have paid their building fund contributions in full and, beseech those that are yet to complete their payments to do so in the shortest possible time.
On behalf of the WACP leadership, I wish you all a splendid and blessed 2023!

Dr. Rose J. Macauley