AFRICA | A brilliant young man from Ghana, Edward Akosah Danso, has made history at the University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences (UCCSMS) after emerging as the Best Medical Student, winning an unprecedented 15 out of 21 awards — a feat never before achieved by any student in the institution’s history.
His remarkable performance crowned years of discipline, sacrifice, and academic excellence, firmly placing him among Ghana’s most outstanding medical graduates.
Edward's Story and How He Did It
Edward’s journey into medicine began long before medical school. According to family stories, he had always spoken about becoming a doctor from a very young age.
“My mum and her sisters tell me that when I was younger, I said that when I become a doctor, I would refer to myself as Dr Nana Akosah Danso. I don’t even remember saying it, so it must have been very early,” he recalled.
That childhood dream became reality when he entered UCCSMS in August 2015, at just 18 years old, young, inexperienced, and unaware of how demanding the journey ahead would be.
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Over the next six years, medical school shaped Edward academically and personally. He committed himself fully to the path of excellence, putting in extra hours of study, maintaining focus, and avoiding distractions that did not contribute to his academic goals.
Those years of sacrifice paid off in 2021, when he graduated with extraordinary distinction. At graduation, Edward was named: Best Student in Anatomy, Best Graduating Clinical Student, and Best Graduating Male Student.
He was also the best in Psychological Medicine & Mental Health, Best Overall Student in Surgery, and Best Student in Psychiatry
Alongside several other awards, bringing his total to 15 out of 21 awards available. Although he expected to receive a few awards, the final count left him stunned.
“I actually didn’t expect to get 15 awards,” he said. “I knew I would get a few, but not that many.”
The moment became emotional as his name was repeatedly called. “I started shaking a bit when the Pro Vice-Chancellor kept mentioning my name. But the best moment was seeing the smile on my mother’s face,” he recalled.
Edward credited his success to unwavering family support. “It was a great privilege to have had support from my family to thrive and come out successfully,” he said.
“I was extremely happy to make my mother and family proud, and to inspire others who may consider me worthy of looking up to,” he added.
Edward’s ambitions extend far beyond graduation. He hopes to pursue a career in academia as a Professor of Surgery, with a strong interest in transplant surgery.
“My final destination is to become a transplant surgeon and establish a transplant programme in Ghana,” he said, noting the growing burden of chronic kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes.
He explained that while dialysis is often used, transplant remains the best standard treatment, yet Ghana currently lacks a structured national transplant programme.
To students coming behind him, Edward offered practical advice: “For younger medical students, take your preclinical years seriously. If you have a comprehensive understanding of your basic sciences, your clinical years become a walk in the park.”
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