Ethics Committee for Humanities

ECH Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month.

All applicants must submit a soft copy only of the application dossier to the ECH Administrator via ech@ug.edu.gh .

ECH Forms to download

1. New Protocol Submission form 
2. Continue Review form
3. Protocol Amendment form
4. Study Deviation form
5. Study Closure form
6. Protocol Consent form
7. sample cover letter from PI
8. Guardian Consent form

Note: The forms are revised regularly. Please use the current versions listed above.

THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) AND UG ETHICS POLICY

• ECH SOP
• UG Ethics Policy

Guidelines for Submitting New Protocols

An Investigator, who intends to commence data collection for a research project, shall apply to the ECH for ethical clearance. The application dossier shall include:

• A cover letter (with all enclosures/ attachments listed) signed by the Principal Investigator (PI). (Applies to all levels of applicants). See a sample via here: sample cover letter from PI
• An introductory letter signed by the Head of Department (applies to student investigators only)
• An introductory letter signed by a UG Faculty member (applies to external investigators (students or researchers) only).
• Completion of the ECH-approved New Protocol Submission Form (NPSF). *No part of the NPSF must be left unanswered. If an item does not apply to you, kindly input, “Not Applicable or N/A”. Also, if the requested document is part of the submitted dossier, input “Attached” to the item. Adhere to all instructions in the NPSF.
• Completion of the ECH-approved Consent Forms. *All responses to the various sub-headings on the forms must be presented in paragraphs and not bullets. Adhere to all instructions on the consent forms.
• All projects involving minors (participants below age 18), participants who are vulnerable or unable to give informed consent, etc. must include a Guardian/Parental Consent Form.
• A 10-page research proposal excluding the reference page(s).
• References must be presented on a new page.
• Work plan must be presented on a new page.
• Budget/ Budget justification must be presented on a new page.
• Each instrument must be presented on a new page.
• Each CV must be on a separate page (It is mandatory to submit the CV of all persons mentioned on the NPSF, except supervisors).
• The order for submitting CVs for Co-Investigators may preferably be in the order of mention as in the New Protocol Submission Form.  
• All documents submitted must be characterized by page numbers.

Note: The ECH does not grant retrospective approvals.

A soft copy only of the application dossier and all other supporting documents (i.e., cover letters, introductory letters, other relevant letters, NPSF, Consent Form(s), research proposal, work plan, budget and budget justification, instrument(s), CVs of Principal Investigators/ Co-investigators) should be sent via: ech@ug.edu.gh to the ECH Secretariat.

Format for 10-page Full Proposal for Ethical clearance

• Abstract/ Executive Summary (Not more than 250 words)
• Introduction/Rationale (Not more than 3 pages)
• Literature Review (Not more than 4 pages)
• Aims or Objectives of study.
• Methodology (State Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria, Gender parity)
• Ethical Considerations: (i.e., consent procedures, confidentiality, privacy, risks and benefits, COVID-19 protocols to be observed, etc.)
• Expected Outcome/Results
• References (APA style)
• Work Plan
• Budget (table format) and Budget Justification

Note: The proposal should not be more than 10 pages excluding references, work plan, budget, and budget justification. The various headings/subheadings within the proposal must be in bolded format and not characterized by multi-level listing (i.e., 1, 1.1, 1.2…). Font size for the proposal should be 12.

ORDER OF ARRANGEMENT OF DOCUMENTS FOR ETHICAL CLEARANCE

A complete application pack (dossier) should include:

• Cover Letter from PI
• Applicable Introductory Letter(s)
• Other relevant letters
• New Protocol Submission Form (ECH-Approved Template)
• Consent Form(s) (ECH-Approved Template)
• Proposal (ECH-Approved Composition)
• Work plan
• Budget and Budget Justification
• Instruments (Interview Guide/Questionnaire)
• CVs of PI and Co-PI (where applicable)

University of Ghana Approved Charges for Ethics Committees

Clinical Trials   -$ 750

Protocols         -$ 500

Exempt Category: UG students and faculty members with UG grants (UG funded)

The processes for making payment are as follows:

1. Contact the ECH secretariat where an invoice will be generated.
2. Proceed to make payment at the designated bank indicated on the invoice or at ORID’s Accounts Office located at the ground floor of the LECIAD building.

NB: Individuals, international organization and UG-faculty with externally funded grants are not exempted.

Prof. Christopher Mate-Kole             Chairperson

Prof. Akosua Keseboa Darkwah       Vice Chairperson

Dr. George Owusu Essegbey           Member

Dr. Lawrence Boakye                       Member

Prof.  Michael Ayitey Tagoe              Member

Prof. Peter Quartey                          Member

Rev. Kofi Ankama-Asamoah            Member

Prof. Esther Sakyi-Dawson              Member

Mrs. Rosemond Evans                    Member

Prof. Lily Yarney                               Member

The Administrator

Ethics Committee for the Humanities

Ground floor, Room NB 2

ISSER Annex Conference Facility

University of Ghana

Legon

Email: ech@ug.edu.gh

Tel: +233- 303933866