The Ethics Committee for the College of Basic and Applied Sciences (ECBAS) held its maiden workshop on 25th April 2017 at the Erata Hotel, East Legon. The purpose of the workshop was to acquaint members of the committee with best practices on Ethics management pertaining worldwide. Some of the topics treated were on The Role of the IRB, Understanding and Applying Ethical Principles in Research involving “Human Participants” and Overview of International Regulation on Ethics practices.
Delivering the welcome address, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Daniel Bruce Sarpong stated that the workshop also offered an opportunity to look back on the performance of Committee Members since its inception and to see areas which can be improved as members learn from other colleagues locally and internationally who have been in the ethics business for a long time.
Ms. Helena Baidoo during her presentation
In her presentation Ms. Helena Baidoo spoke on the importance for ethical review; some of which she stated helps to promote the aims of research and avoidance of error, assures that researchers are accountable to the public, build public and community support for research and promotes other moral and social values including social responsibility, human rights etc. She also stated that protecting the rights, dignity, safety and general wellbeing of research participants must be the goal of every ethics committee.
Dr. Kwasi Odoi – Agyako during his presentation
Dr. Kwasi Odoi – Agyarko who presented on “Understanding and Applying Ethical Principles in Research involving “Human Participants” spoke on the Nuremberg Code, Helsinki Declaration, Belmont report, CIOMS and UNESCO. He went on to state that the Belmont report is the basics for all current laws, regulations and policies governing the use of human subject. He mentioned that the three fundamental ethical principles of the Belmont report are in respect for persons, beneficence and justice.
Speaking on the topic “Overview of International Regulation” Mr. Okyere Boateng spoke about the US Code of Federal Regulations (The Common Rule) touching on prior approval by ethics committee, written informed consent and documentation, equitable recruitment of research participants, Special protection for vulnerable groups and Continuing review of approved research.
The Ethics Committee for the College of Basic and Applied Sciences was set up in line with the mandate of University of Ghana’s Ethics Policy on the use of human and non-human subjects for research.
The committee is to serve the College of Basic and Applied Sciences in reviewing protocols for ethical approval for research. The Committee consists of thirteen (13) members from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds.
Group photograph of workshop participants