Government constitutes governing board for Allied Health Professionals after protests

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has in consultation with the Council of State constituted the governing body of the Allied Health Professions Council.

The Allied Health Professionals have been on a strike in demand for the Governing Board; the absence of which they say is retarding the progress of work.

The eleven-member board is to be chaired by Professor Augustine Kwame Kyere and composed of members drawn from Allied health professions, the Allied health training institutions and the Ministry of Health.

Two members have also been nominated by the Health Minister, and one by the President.

In a letter announcing the appointments, Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema-Opare tasked the Health Ministry to take steps to swear the members into office.

List of nominees

Prof. Augustin W. Kwame Kyere
Dr. Samuel Yaw Opoku
Mr. Gaetan Charles Adangabey
Dr. Prince Sodoke Amuzu
Dr. Samuel Kyei
Mr. Ofori-Amoah Justice
Dr. Matilda Asante
Dr. Ernest Asiedu
Mrs. Anna Peal Akiwumi Siriboe
Mr. Richard Asamoa-Mensah
Mad. Justina Owusu Banahene

The Allied Health Professionals have on various occasions embarked on a nationwide sit-down strike, with the latest being on May 14, 2019 in protest of government’s reluctance to constitute a governing board more than two years since the last one was dissolved.

The Ministry of Health had earlier assured the striking professionals that processes were far advanced to have the board set up but the professionals say such assurances and promises have not been honoured.

The Professionals who are part of the Allied Health Professions are the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS), Ghana Physiotherapy Association (GPA), Ghana Society of Radiographers (GSR), Ghana Optometric Association (GOA), Ghana Dietetic Association (GDA) and the Ghana Association Of Prosthetics And Orthotics (GHAPO).

The others are, Ghana Health Information Management Association (GHIMA), Ghana Society Of Medical Physicists (GSMP), Ghana National Association Of Public Health Technical Officers (GAPHTO), Ghana Association Of Community Mental Health Officers (GNACMHOS), Ghana Para-Dental Association (GPA), Oral Health Professionals Association Of Ghana (OHPAG) and Opticians Association Of Ghana (OAG).

Some more members are the Health Promotion Association Of Ghana (HPAG), Nutrition Association Of Ghana (NAG), Ghana Environmental Health Officers Association (GEHOA) and Speech Therapy & Audiology Association Of Ghana (STAAG).

Read the government’s letter below:

Source: citinewsroom.com