Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful — An irreplaceable loss
The last day of 2015 witnessed the passing away of a giant. A giant with a booming but soothing voice gentle enough to send into deep slumber, an irritable baby. He was an exceptional father, a dependable friend, a superb counsellor and above all an astute leader.
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I was gutted by the sad news of the passing of Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful, a distinguished Past President and Fellow of the of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).
A paediatrician by training, he spent significant portion of his medical career and life to the service of humanity, the GMA and the nation as a whole.
I got to know Dr Winful as far back as in 2004 when he represented Eastern Region on the National Executive Council of GMA. At a time when junior doctors were hardly heard, he offered a listening ear to us. His promises was as good as done. He was an active member of the association long before he was elected the President in November 2008. He served on the National Executive Council of the association in his capacity as the Chairman of the Eastern Division from 2002-2008. During this period of service on the council, he demonstrated to all his bravery, eloquence and frankness in deliberations.
I cannot list all his achievements but will mention a few. He successfully negotiated the GMA Fidelity Car Loan agreement, an agreement that allowed most doctors to buy brand new cars.
It was during his tenure of office that the GMA ventured into commercial product endorsement. This led to the GMA forging a partnership with PZ Cussons Ltd. resulting in the endorsement of Camel Antiseptic products. This incidentally happens to be the only endorsement that the GMA has entered into till date. This partnership has brought massive financial support to the GMA.
Among others, it was during his leadership that, the GMA Focus Magazine, a social magazine of the association was born. Dr Winful led the GMA to successfully negotiate with government an On-Call-Duty-facilitation allowance. This allowance is enjoyed by doctors till date.
For a very long time for a variety of reasons, many GMA Presidents served only one term of two years. Dr Adom Winful broke that tradition by serving two terms.
He was described by many as the “Junior Doctors’ President”. This title he earned because he totally realigned forces with the junior doctors such that even controversial issues raised by them were never neglected but wholly embraced by the mother association.
The famous Single Spine Salary Structure negotiations started under his tenure and although maligned by the media, he maintained his focus on ensuring that doctors were given their fair share of the national cake.
As the immediate past president of the association from 2011-2015, he continued to seek the welfare of the association and its members. He was a member of the team that successfully negotiated with government the first conditions of service document for public sector doctors in October 2015. Before his demise, he was negotiating a car loan agreement with Societe General for doctors.
Dr Winful had a likeable personality and was a sociable person. During social events, he shared stories of his early professional life including why he relocated from Accra to Mampong, how he built his house and his sheer love for Mampong and the decision to remain there forever.
He was quick to point to everyone his love for fast cars, especially the Mercedes Benz. Indeed inasmuch as he owned the very latest model, he was still spending time putting together an old model with the sole aim of displaying such archeological masterpiece in his home at Mampong.
His contributions to the association were outstanding and exemplary. His sacrifices and the personal price paid in service of the association and the nation was very high.
For such sterling contributions to the medical profession, the GMA and to the citizenry of Ghana, the GMA conferred its highest honour of “Fellow” to Dr Winful, at the 57th Annual General Conference of the Association in November 2015.
The medical fraternity, the GMA and indeed the whole nation has lost a giant. My condolences to Dr Sophia Winful, and the entire family of Dr Winful.
I fervently look forward to the resurrection where I will get to hear his stories again.
astom2@yahoo.com
A member of Paediatric Society of Ghana.
