By Nii Martey M. Botchway, GNA
Accra, Sept. 25, GNA – The Speech Therapists and Audiologists Association of Ghana (STAAG) has called on the government to recruit more audiologists and speech and language therapists to strengthen hearing and communication healthcare delivery.
It said fewer than five audiologists were on the Ministry of Health’s payroll, while the Ghana Health Service had no audiologist.
Speaking at the Association’s annual general meeting and scientific conference in Accra, Major Emmanuel Deladem Nkornoo, President of STAAG, said the failure to recruit qualified professionals since the first batch graduated in 2013 had left many trained practitioners unemployed.
He said since the first batch of audiologists and speech and language therapists qualified in 2013, thd Association had not received any clearance to recruit or employ.
“We have not received recruitment clearance to employ these professionals, despite the growing demand for their services,” he said.
He said many graduates from the University of Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) remained unemployed despite their specialised training.
Major Nkornoo also called for audiology and speech and language therapy facilities to be established in all regional hospitals, with services eventually extended to district and municipal hospitals.
He said existing public-sector services were concentrated in a few teaching hospitals, including Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the 37 Military Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital.
He further appealed for appropriate placement of audiologists and speech and language therapists on the Single Spine Salary Structure to reflect their qualifications and professional responsibilities.
He said some qualified speech and language therapists at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital were classified as audiologists because of the absence of an appropriate job classification.
He urged corporate organisations and private investors to partner the Association in establishing facilities and expanding services to create employment opportunities.
Regulatory reforms
Professor Shiraz Issahaku, President of the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC), said the Council was collaborating with stakeholders to secure scholarships for eight allied health professions, including speech and language therapy, to increase the number of trained professionals.
“We are working with stakeholders to secure scholarship opportunities for allied health professionals, including speech and language therapists, to build the workforce and strengthen healthcare delivery,” he said.
He said the initiative could facilitate the overseas training of five to six professionals annually, who would be expected to return to Ghana to strengthen service delivery.
Professor Issahaku said the Council was also harmonising training curricula and practical standards while working towards establishing a College of Allied Health Professions to provide specialist training.
He urged practitioners to maintain active professional registration and membership to ensure accountability and compliance with professional standards.
He also said the Ministry of Health had indicated its readiness to provide additional recruitment opportunities for allied health professionals.
Madam Elsie Otuo-Acheampong, Chairperson of the programme, urged practitioners to prioritise research based on Ghanaian communities and healthcare needs to improve service delivery.
The conference was held on the theme: “Shaping the Future of Communication and Hearing Healthcare: From Practice to Impact.”
STAAG, which attained professional body status in March 2024, has 95 members, comprising 58 audiologists and 37 speech and language therapists.
GNA
Nii Martey M. Botchway
[email protected]
Edited by Samuel