Dr. David Acheampong-Mensah

I was born at Abrepo, a suburb of Kumasi, but attended elementary school at my mother's hometown, Chiraa, in Brong-Ahafo Region. I was admitted to Osei Tutu House at Prempeh College in January 1959 with a Cocoa Marketing Board Scholarship.

The six and a half years at Prempeh College will always count as the most memorable years of my life. I worked very hard and was handsomely rewarded. I was always at or near the top of my class. I served one term as the Secretary of the Debating Society and played on the school field hockey team. One of my most cherished achievements was as the captain of the team that won the first trophy in field hockey for Osei Tutu House, which was then going through growing pains as the "youngest" house on the block. In 1964/65 I was appointed the first Visitors' & Prep Prefect to ensure that the needs of official visitors were fully met, and that students used prep time and facilities effectively.

I was admitted to a direct-entry honors degree program in Biochemistry at the University of Ghana in 1965/66. On the strength of my A'Level Examination results I was allowe to skip the first year. Thus I completed the four-year program in three years. I served one term as the secretary of the Legon Science Students' Association (LESSA). I completed a Ph.D. degree and a post-doctoral diploma in Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Toronto, Canada in 1974 and 1976 respectively. here, my hard work and achievements were recognized with the "Stuart Alan Hoffman Memorial Prize," which was awarded by the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, for excellence in Graduate Research in Clinical Biochemistry.

Since graduation I have worked as a clinical biochemist and manager of hospital and commercial clinical laboratories. I have published over 20 peer-reviewed papers, abstracts and book chapter, with a focus in Clinical Enzymology, Endocrinilogy and Quality Systems in laboratory Medicine. Currently I am President of LabMed Consulting Inc. (Canada), a group of clinical, technical and management consultants in laboratory medicine. I am also an Associate Director of MEDILAB Diagnostic Services LTD. (Ghana). One of my career goals is to ensure that laboratories in Ghana are required to assure the public of quality results through accreditation, licensing and legislation.

More than half of my adult life has been spent in Toronto, canada, where I have provided strong leadership in the Ghanaian-Canadian community in Toronto. As president of the Association of Ghanaians in Toronto (AGIT), I worked hard to improve access to quality healthcare, education and housing for members. I was instrumental in the campaign of the various Ghanaian-Canadian Cultural Associations in Ontario to improve the delivery of Healthcare in Ghana. Through this campaign, several medical equipment and supplies were donated to various hospitals and health centers, including Komfo Anokye, Sunyani and Akuse hospitals, and Health Centers at Pramso and Larteh.