Research Group Heussler (Malaria I) - Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für ...

Address by Dr. Thomas F. Kruppa
Director KCCR
Chairman, the Vice Chancellor of
the Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology
Otumfuo, the Asantehene
Honourable Minister of Health,
Honourable Minister of Defence
His Excellency, the Ambassador of the
Federal Republic of Germany
Chairman of the KCCR Advisory Board
Chairman, Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute
for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg
Representative of the Volkswagen Foundation,
Germany
Members of KCCR Advisory Board
Dean of the School of Medical Sciences
Deans of Faculties/Heads of Departments
Chief Executive of the Komfo Anokye
Teaching Hospital
Distinguished invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to welcome you here on this very important
occasion in the history of the KCCR. This inauguration
is a milestone in the 6-year existence of this institution.
As we looked to the future, six years ago, it became
clear that if we were to provide facilities for first class research
and enable young scientists to develop their careers,
this institution would need a permanent home.
This building will provide first class laboratories, a seminar
room, teaching facilities and accommodation for visiting
scientists.
The underlying philosophy of KCCR is collaboration, and
the evolution of this building is founded upon such collaboration
between scientists, architects and contractors.
We have to acknowledge and learn that, scientists are
not architects but the architects need to know what the
scientists need. Sometimes we the scientists were brought
sharply down to earth regarding what was possible
and the architects also learned to realise expectations.
The construction you see before you combines high
standards of quality, functionality, simplicity and self-reliance.
Common sense decision making led to a delicate
balance between these four important factors and as a
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by product we have what you see before
you today, beauty.
There are many people who I, on behalf
of the KCCR, wish to thank.
The construction project was made possible
by a grant from the Volkswagen Foundation
in Germany who today, are
being represented by Dr Indra Willms-
Hoff. We thank her very much for travelling here to celebrate
with us and ask her to pass on our thanks to her
organisation in Germany.
We are also grateful for the contribution of the friends
of the Tropical Institute in Hamburg.
I wish to extend our thanks to the Vice Chancellor, Professor
Kwesi Andam, who always makes himself available
when we have concerns and does all in his power to
make us feel at home and part of this university. I also
wish to thank the former Vice Chancellor, Professor
J.S.K. Ayim who played a critical role in the process of
bringing this building into reality.
Until two weeks ago we were lodging in a wing of the
school of medical sciences, which had been our home
for six years. I want to thank the former Dean Professor
Brobby and the present Dean Professor Agbenyega,
both of whom played an active part in the ongoing research
of the unit for their generous hospitality. We hope
that we too can now extend our hospitality to all members
of the medical school and other faculties of the
university.
To the building itself: Discussions in earnest about this
building began four years ago and were coordinated by
the architectural firm EDS under the leadership of the
late Mr Enninful Eghan, who sadly passed away during
our time of working together. I want to thank him and
his team for bringing the ideas of so many people on to
paper and for patiently dealing with all of our demands.
In looking at the finished building today we are extremely
grateful for the contribution Enninful made to the
realisation of the project. Many other people have
played their part along the way; Christiane Bergmann,
Civil Engineer from Accra, who contributed enormously
to the sketches for the workshop, cafeteria and guest
accommodation. We thank her very much. Our thanks
also go to Mr Adu Sarkodie and the Building Industry
Consultants for their contributions in supervision during
the latter stages of the work and to Mr Buchmann of
Hospital Engineering who, in being a loyal friend to this
institution, has offered advice at many stages along the
way.Mr Edo Lubbing von Gaertner, an expert on sustainable
energy from Germany was here during 2000
and 2001 and made a tremendous contribution to
make the use of energy in the building as economical
as possible.
Although our dream to have the whole institute powe-