'Pool Resources to Publish Academic Books'

23--09-09
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THE Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, has called on governments in the West African sub-region to pool resources to undertake academic publishing of books.
That, he said, was to help in addressing the cost of publishing such books.
He made the call today when he launched the fourth edition of a book titled Principles and Practice of Surgery including Pathology in the Tropics in Accra.
The 1,446-page book is edited by Prof. Emeritus E.A. Badoe, a former Head of the Department of Surgery of the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS).
The book, which treats the Basic Sciences, Surgical Pathology, General Surgery, Surgical Specialities, Orthopaedics, Trauma, among others, is a contribution of 53 experts who have had many years of surgical practice in the tropics from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Papua New Guinea.
Prof. Yankah expressed the hope that the new edition of the book had incorporated findings from new learning experiences by the writers and other scholars, "since every academic field is dynamic and is subject to changes in approach and techniques over very short periods".
"What I regret though is the relative paucity of well-recognised academic publishing houses in the area of book publishers. One indeed appreciates local medical journals such as the Ghana Medical Journal, West African Journal of Medicine, West African Journal of Anatomy, Research Letters, etc. Beyond these we need academic publishing houses for books," he said.
In address read on his behalf, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, congratulated the editors and those who contributed to the publication of the book.
"My brief perusal of this excellent production convinces me that the revision exercise has been thorough, practically sparing no section with some chapters being entirely re-written," he said, and indicated that the ministry would procure copies for government hospitals throughout the 150 districts in the country.
He said the new information on surgical infections, including hospital infections, direct observation therapy in tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS in surgical practice, leprosy, wound healing, shock, burns, surgical nutrition, among others, were "the state of the art information material here in Ghana, Africa and elsewhere".
A co-editor of the book, Prof. E.Q. Archampong, who is also a former Dean of the University of Ghana Medical School, said new concepts and trends in diagnosis and management of a wide range of conditions had been highlighted in the various fields of surgery.
He said the review process had been thorough and systematic.
The Chairman of the Book Development Committee, Prof. E.D. Yeboah, said the book embodied the spirit, philosophy, ethics, knowledge, service delivery, practice and teaching and research in surgery.