National Cleft Care Center
Smile Train Cleft Leadership Center
Kumasi, Ghana
At a Glance
- Founded in 2025, this Smile Train Cleft Leadership Center represents a joint commitment by Smile Train, Ghana’s Ministry of Health, the Ghana Cleft Foundation, and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)
- The Ghana Cleft Foundation has been partnering with Smile Train to provide cleft care to patients at KATH since 2003.
History
In 2025, Smile Train launched the National Cleft Care Center - A Smile Train Cleft Leadership Center. This Cleft Leadership Center (CLC), located on the campus of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, is a four-way partnership between Smile Train, Ghana’s Ministry of Health, KATH, and the Ghana Cleft Foundation.
Comprehensive cleft care programs at the Ghana CLC include:
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- VPD surgery
- ENT services
- Child health and family medicine
- Orthodontics
- Oral Health
- Speech services
- Anesthesia and intensive care
- Pharmaceutical services
“This milestone elevates Africa’s medical professionals in diverse fields of cleft care, boosting their credibility while reassuring our patients of holistic, quality care delivered close to their doorstep.”
Prof. Peter Donkor
1st Vice-President, West African College of Surgeons
Smile Train Global Medical Advisory Board Member and African Medical Advisory Council Member
Immediate Past Vice-President, Ghana Cleft Foundation
Director, National Cleft Care Center - A Smile Train Cleft Leadership Center
“Cleft care in Africa has come a long way. We appreciate the goodwill of the Ghanaian government in partnering with Smile Train, the Ghana Cleft Foundation, and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to create Africa’s first Smile Train Cleft Leadership Center. We hope that this creates a ripple effect across the continent so that more patients receive safe, quality, and comprehensive care from trained professionals within their communities.”
Mrs. Nkeiruka Obi
Smile Train Vice President and Regional Director, Africa
Research and Publications
- Agbenorku P, Ansah S, Acheampong A, Sabbah D, Bankas D, Adu E, Plange-Rhule G, Adiyiah Y, Donkor P. “Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Multidisciplinary Cleft Clinic.”
- Donkor P, Bankas DO, Agbenorku P, Plange-Rhule G, Ansah SK. “Cleft lip and palate surgery in Kumasi, Ghana: 2001-2005.”
- Oti AA, Obiri-Yeboah S, Donkor P. “Aesthetic outcome and the need for revision of unilateral cleft lip repair at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.”
- Sommer CL, Wankier AP, Obiri-Yeboah S, Gyamfi S, Frimpong BA, Dickerson T. "A Qualitative Analysis of Factors Impacting Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate Care in Ghana."
Contact
KATH Contact
P.O. BOX 1934 Adum-Kumasi
+233 266 083 585
+233 556 490 029
Ghana Cleft Foundation Contact
A1-B1 Concourse
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Kumasi, Ghana
info@ghanacleftfoundation.org
+233-(0)3220 40819
+233 (0)2752 01020 | (0)2409 76226