The Human and Animal Research Ethics Services (HARES) has officially begun its scheduled series of sensitization and stakeholder engagement sessions across the various colleges of the University of Ghana. This initiative is a follow-up to the ethics sensitization workshops and seminars held over the years, aimed at addressing gaps in service delivery and improving HARES’ engagement with stakeholders.

The first engagement in the series took place on Monday, August 18, 2025, with the College of Humanities (CoH). The HARES team met with leadership of the College to discuss strategies for strengthening collaboration and improving institutional support for ethical research practices.

Present at the meeting were: Professor Joseph Yaro – Provost, College of Humanities (CoH), Mr. Benedict Fosu Adjei – College Registrar (CoH), Dr. Helena Baidoo – Team Lead, HARES, Mrs. Angelina S. Appiah-Kubi – Administrator, Ethics Committee for the Humanities (ECH), Ms. Angela Abroso – Administrator, Ethics Committee for Basic and Applied Sciences (ECBAS), Ms. Hannah Abban – Administrator, NMIMR Institutional Review Board, and Mr. Joseph Baah –Administrator, Ethical and Protocol Review Committee (EPRC).

The meeting was productive and progressive, focusing broadly on strengthening collaboration between the College and the HARES team, to enhance ethical research oversight.

All participants at the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to upholding ethical research practices and pledged support for the ongoing collaboration between the Ethics Committee for the Humanities and all its’ constituent units. The Provost concluded by emphasizing the need for a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to research ethics.

HARES will continue its engagement and sensitization series over the coming weeks, with upcoming visits to other colleges.