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.