title: West African College of Surgeons
text: # West African College of Surgeons
  
  The West African College of Surgeons is a professional organization that promotes education, training, examinations and research in surgery in Africa. The college is the first organization to organize surgical subspecialty training in the region. It awards diploma of fellowship in surgery and is one of out of two bodies that accredits institutions to train surgical residents in member countries.
  
  ## History
  
  The Association of Surgeons of West Africa (ASWA) was established so that West African surgeons could discuss the unique challenges that they faced and foster cooperation among the region's first crop of foreign trained surgeons. It started with 15 representatives across the field of general surgery, anaesthesia, otorhinolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology. The first council meeting took place at the University of Ibadan on 3 December 1960. The university hosted the college's first conference the next year.
  
  In 1969, ASWA established the West African College of Surgeons with the objective of providing postgraduate surgical training opportunities. The college was to exist side by side with the Association of Surgeons of West Africa. By 1973, the Association of Surgeons of West Africa was dissolved and its funds and responsibilities were shifted to the West African College of Surgeons. In January 1975, the organization became a constituent college of the newly created West African Postgraduate Medical College (WAPMC). The sister institution of the West African College of Surgeons is the West African College of Physicians.
  
  Member countries of WACS are not limited to the West African region, Angola, Cameroun and Congo who are considered to be outside the region have been affiliated with the organization.
  
  ### Examinations
  
  The schedule towards the award of a fellowship in one the faculties usually took a period of 4–6 years depending on the availability of teachers and the choice of specialty. The program is split into Part I and Part II. The part I exam is conducted after two years of entry into the program and the completion of rotational training in most disciplines of surgery and in accredited institutions. The second examination is conducted two years after the first exam when the candidate has chosen a specialty.
  
  ### List of presidents
  
  SIR Samuel Manuwa 1961 - 1963
  
  PROF. Charles Odamtten Easmon 1963 - 1965.
  
  PROF. Horatio Orishejolomi Thomas 1965 - 1967
  
  MR. Alfred Ellington Olu-Williams 1967 - 1969
  
  DR. Emmanuel Evans-Anfom 1969 - 1971
  
  PROF. A. V. Ngu 1971 - 1973
  
  DR. A. J. Ohin 1973 - 1975
  
  PROF. Akinpelu Oludele Adesola 1975 - 1977
  
  PROF. J.K.M. Quartey 1977 - 1979
  
  PROF. K. Kotso-Nathaniels 1979 - 1981
  
  PROF. Toriola Feisitan Solanke 1981 - 1983
  
  PROF. E. A. Badoe 1983 - 1985
  
  PROF. V. E. Aimakhu 1985 - 1987
  
  PROF. Antoine Yangni Angate 1987 - 1989
  
  PROF. O. O. Ajayi 1989 - 1991
  
  PROF. D.J.O. Ffoulkes-Crabbe 1991 - 1993
  
  PROF. C. K. Ghartey 1993 - 1995
  
  PROF. Festus Aghagbo Nwako 1995 - 1997
  
  PROF. Emmanuel Quaye Archampong 1997 - 1999
  
  PROF. A. D. O. Wright 1999 - 2001
  
  PROF. Mamadou Gueye 2001 - 2001
  
  PROF. Osato Frank Giwa-Osagie 2001 - 2003 & 2003 - 2005
  
  PROF. E.D. Yeboah 2005 - 2007
  
  PROF. E. Alihonu 2007 - 2008
  
  PROF. O. O. Mbonu 2009 - 2011
  
  PROF. O. K. Ogedengbe 2011 - 2013
  
  PROF. Koffi Hervé Yangni-Angate 2013 - 2015
  
  PROF. Akinyinka Omigbodun 2015 - 2017
  
  PROF. King-David Terna Yawe 2017 - 2019
  
  PROF. Serigne Magueye Gueye 2019 - 2021
  
  PROF. Peter Donkor 2021 - present
  
  ## Faculties
  
  The college consists of seven faculties. These include:
  
  * Anaesthesia
  * Dental Surgery
  * Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  * Ophthalmology
  * Otorhinolaryngology
  * Radiology
  * Surgery.
  