On September 5th, 2024, the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) at the University of Ghana welcomed Mrs. Florence Hagan, the newly appointed Executive Director of the National Population Council (NPC), for an important visit aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two institutions. Mrs. Hagan led a delegation to RIPS to formally introduce herself and explore pathways for partnership in support of NPC's mission to advance population programs across Ghana.
During her visit, Mrs. Hagan emphasized the critical need for enhanced staff capacity building, technical training, and support to overcome various challenges faced by the NPC in implementing effective population programs. Highlighting her vision for the NPC, she expressed optimism that a partnership with RIPS could lead to impactful strides in addressing Ghana’s population needs, particularly in the areas of data analysis, policy formulation, and demographic research.
Prof. Ayaga Bawah, Director of RIPS, warmly welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed RIPS’s commitment to NPC’s goals. He assured Mrs. Hagan of RIPS's dedication to providing expertise and resources to support NPC’s mandate. “At RIPS, we believe that strengthening Ghana’s population programs is key to national development, and we are excited about the potential of this collaboration to drive impactful change,” Prof. Bawah stated.
The meeting concluded with mutual agreement on several potential areas of cooperation, including targeted training initiatives, joint research projects, and workshops aimed at equipping NPC staff with cutting-edge tools and methodologies in population studies. The collaboration between NPC and RIPS is anticipated to be a pivotal step toward advancing population health and development programs in Ghana, reinforcing both institutions' roles in shaping the country’s demographic landscape.