By Samira Larbie, GNA
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.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Samira Larbie