The Ministry of Health, Ghana, recently held the 2026 Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards, where two faculty members from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) received national honors. Dr. Abigail Kusi-Amponsah Diji and Dr. William Wilberforce Amoah were awarded in the Education and Research categories for their work in advancing nursing and midwifery education, research, and professional practice. The ceremony took place on September 18, 2026, at the Capital View Hotel in Koforidua.
Dr. Abigail Kusi-Amponsah Diji, a senior lecturer and Head of the Department of Public Health Nursing, has made significant contributions to nursing education, student mentorship, and research. Her scholarly interests include nursing education, maternal and child health, public health, quality improvement, and pain management. Her recognition highlights the link between teaching, research, and improved healthcare practice, an approach central to the School of Nursing and Midwifery's mandate.
Dr. William Wilberforce Amoah, a lecturer in the Department of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, has contributed to nursing and midwifery education, student clinical coordination, research supervision, and academic administration. His research has addressed chronic kidney disease, health-related quality of life, self-management, nursing practice, triage, primary healthcare, and nursing education. He remains committed to translating research evidence into practical improvements in nursing care and healthcare delivery in Ghana and beyond.
The awards celebrate professionals whose work contributes to advancing knowledge, shaping future generations of nurses and midwives, and strengthening evidence-based practice. For KNUST, the recognition underscores the growing impact of the School of Nursing and Midwifery in preparing highly skilled health professionals while generating research that responds to contemporary healthcare challenges.
The recognition is significant as KNUST continues to strengthen collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders in the training of health professionals. Over the years, the school has strengthened its role in undergraduate and postgraduate training, research, mentorship, and professional development, contributing to the preparation of nurses and midwives capable of advancing healthcare delivery in Ghana and beyond.
For the faculty, the awards go beyond individual achievement, underscoring the continuing contribution of KNUST's School of Nursing and Midwifery to Ghana's health workforce development. The achievement of the two lecturers sends an important message to students and early-career academics: excellence in health education is built through sustained commitment to teaching, research, mentorship, and service.
The recognition is an inspiration to faculty, students, and alumni of the school and reinforces KNUST's commitment to developing professionals whose work makes a meaningful difference in communities, health institutions, and the wider society. The awards highlight the important role university educators play beyond the classroom in advancing nursing and midwifery education and research.
Key points
- Two KNUST faculty members, Dr. Abigail Kusi-Amponsah Diji and Dr. William Wilberforce Amoah, received awards in the Education and Research categories at the 2026 Health Ministry Excellence Awards.
- The awards recognize their contributions to advancing nursing and midwifery education, research, and professional practice.
- The recognition underscores the growing impact of KNUST's School of Nursing and Midwifery in preparing highly skilled health professionals and generating research that responds to contemporary healthcare challenges.
