Health Minister calls on allied health professionals to prioritise patient safety

‎Accra, Oct. 20, GNA – Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, has called on newly inducted allied health professionals to uphold ethical standards, protect patient safety and practise with integrity. 

‎He said quality healthcare depended on the competence, accountability and ethical conduct of professionals, alongside adequate infrastructure and equipment. 

‎In a speech read on his behalf at the 2026 induction and oath-swearing ceremony organised by the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) in Accra, Mr Akandoh said allied health professionals were critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Ghana. 

‎He said this required equitable access to quality healthcare without exposing individuals and families to financial hardship, and encouraged the graduates to approach their one-year supervised clinical internships with discipline, humility and commitment to service. 

‎The ceremony was held on the theme: “Setting the Standard: Regulating Service, Safety and Excellence Across Universal Health Coverage.” 

‎Mr Akandoh said allied health professionals contributed to diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, nutrition and disease prevention, directly influencing patient outcomes and public confidence in the health system. 

‎He called on the AHPC to enforce professional standards, ensure training institutions met regulatory requirements and prevent unqualified persons from practising. 

‎The Minister also appealed to training institutions to prioritise quality over admission numbers, cautioning that overcrowded classrooms and inadequate facilities could compromise professional training. 

‎He cautioned the graduates against practising beyond their authorised scope, falsifying records and compromising ethical standards for financial gain. 

‎Professor Shirazu Issahaku, Registrar of the AHPC, said the one-year supervised clinical internship was designed to prepare graduates for professional practice, not independent service delivery without appropriate supervision. 

‎He advised them to respect supervisors, strengthen their practical skills and seek guidance when necessary, warning that practising beyond their authorised scope could attract professional and legal consequences. 

‎Prof. Freda Dzifa Intiful, a dietitian and Associate Professor of Dietetics at the University of Ghana, said professional regulation protected patients and strengthened public trust beyond the acquisition of certificates and licences. 

‎“Your qualification demonstrates what you have studied. Your registration recognises your eligibility to practise. But your conduct determines whether the public can trust you,” she said. 

‎Prof. Intiful encouraged the graduates to maintain accurate records, respect confidentiality, seek supervision when necessary and refer patients whose needs exceeded their competence. 

‎She also advocated continuous professional development, research, innovation and stronger collaboration among allied health professionals and other healthcare workers to improve patient outcomes. 

‎Lt. Col. Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu, Deputy Director of the National Service Authority, called on the graduates to accept their postings with humility and serve wherever their expertise was needed. 

‎He said national service provided an opportunity to contribute to national development, gain practical experience and understand the realities of healthcare delivery. 

‎Lt. Col. Kpeungu encouraged them to demonstrate competence, compassion, discipline and integrity in their dealings with patients and adherence to professional standards.