Assessment of the Operational Characteristics of Research Ethics Committees in Ghana

Samuel Asiedu Owusu, University of Cape Coast
Grace Addison, University of Ghana
Barbara Redman, New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Lisa Kearns, New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Paul Amuna, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho
Amos Laar, University of Ghana

There were eighteen Research Ethics Committees (RECs) operating in Ghana as of December 2019 but no empirical assessment of their operational characteristics had been conducted. We assessed the characteristics of Ghanaian RECs using an existing Self-Assessment Tool for RECs in Developing Countries. We present results from nine RECs that participated in this nationwide assessment. Our results indicate that the RECs are generally adherent to the recommendations in the Tool including being composed of members with diverse expertise. They also reviewed and approved research protocols as well as had access to some limited funding for their activities. There is no national policy on research human protection or an ethics authority to regulate the activities of the RECs. We recommend the establishment of this authority in Ghana while encouraging institutions to sustain efforts aimed at making their RECs operate independently.