The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) opened its 2025 Annual General Meeting in Cape Coast with a Pre-AGM Workshop for student pharmacists that drew more than 400 participants, including 115 in person and 293 online. The event, held at the University of Cape Coast Graduate Lecture Theatre under the theme “E-Health and Digital Pharmacy”, explored how technology is reshaping pharmacy practice while equipping students with the tools to navigate diverse career paths.
In his welcome address, PSGH President Pharm. Samuel Kow Donkoh reminded students that the majority of pharmacists in Ghana will practice in community pharmacy. He encouraged them to embrace this pathway while also pursuing excellence in whichever field they choose, stressing that the Pharmacy Code of Ethics must remain their compass in an era of rapid change. His remarks were echoed by PSGH Central Regional President and AGM Planning Chair, Pharm. Abena Esia-Donkoh, who congratulated the graduating RX 25 cohort and urged them to use the AGM as a platform for networking and exploration. The President of the Pharmaceutical Students Federation of Ghana, Ms. Manuella Coffie, further challenged her peers to invest in themselves beyond the classroom, insisting that their unique value lies in the skills and experiences they deliberately acquire.
The highlight of the day was a series of career sessions led by professionals at the forefront of digital pharmacy. Mr. Jonathan Ahuma of mPharma captivated students with examples of digital pharmacy models, artificial intelligence in demand forecasting, and the growing space for pharmacists in health technology. He argued that curiosity and hands-on learning matter more than piling up degrees in digital health. Following him, Mr. Joel Anaman, Product Manager at AxMed/Docupharm, demonstrated how digital literacy and data-driven solutions such as the locally developed Cordtree software can transform pharmacy operations and patient outcomes.
Other speakers reinforced the digital message. Ms. Margretta Odame Antwi, head of the Electronic Medical Records Systems unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, described how digitized health records enhance patient safety, reduce duplication, and strengthen pharmacovigilance. Mr. Daniel Marfo of Rx Health Information Systems introduced what he called the CIA framework – Curiosity, Information, and Agency – as a mindset for students entering digital health careers, urging them to focus on long-term growth and to engage in projects that build real-world experience.
The workshop also included an interactive career-mapping exercise where students reflected on their strengths, interests, and values before aligning them with career pathways spanning clinical care, industry, research, entrepreneurship, and digital health. Participants rated their readiness for chosen paths, identified skill gaps, and committed to immediate actions such as enrolling in an online course, updating their CVs, or seeking mentorship.
The final plenary, led by Pharm. Darius Obeng Essah, shifted the focus to professional branding. He encouraged students to think of themselves as a brand, to tailor their CVs to specific roles, and to use platforms like LinkedIn to project credibility and ambition. Storytelling, he noted, is just as important as listing qualifications in communicating a candidate’s value.
Closing the event, moderators Prof. Priscilla Kolibea Mante and Prof. Robert Peter Biney praised the students’ enthusiasm and urged them to stay adaptable and committed to lifelong learning. The Pre-AGM Workshop left many participants energized, with a deeper awareness of how digital health is transforming the profession and a renewed determination to prepare for the opportunities of a rapidly changing pharmacy landscape.
