By Emelia B. Addae, GNA
Koforidua, Nov. 12, GNA – Two Eastern Region health professionals have called for more health-sector jobs and increased school WASH funding in the 2027 Budget.
The calls came from a speech therapist and the Eastern Regional Coordinator of the School Health Education Programme.
They spoke to the Ghana News Agency ahead of the presentation of the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance, is expected to present the budget to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
The budget will outline the government’s revenue and expenditure plans for the coming year.
It will also allow Parliament to examine the plans and ensure accountability in the management of public funds.
Ms Sandra Quayson, a speech therapist at the Eastern Regional Hospital, called for greater support for speech therapists and audiologists.
Ms Quayson, Founder of Starminds Ghana, expressed concern about unemployment among qualified professionals in the two fields.
She said many trained professionals remained unemployed despite growing demand for speech, language and hearing services across the country.
She urged the government to create more employment opportunities for them within the public health sector.
Ms Quayson also called for increased funding, scholarships, equipment and other resources to improve service delivery.
She asked the government to include speech therapy and audiology services under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
She said the inclusion would make the services more affordable and accessible, particularly to low-income and vulnerable people.
Ms Quayson also called for stronger collaboration between the government and relevant professional bodies.
These include the Speech and Language Therapists and Audiologists Association of Ghana.
She said stronger collaboration would develop the professions and expand access to quality care nationwide.
Ms Quayson urged the government to expand training programmes to address the shortage of specialists.
She expressed hope that the budget would introduce concrete measures to create jobs and strengthen professional support systems.
She also called for expanded specialist training and improved access to affordable speech, language, and hearing services.
Mr Godfried Ofoe Caesar, the Eastern Regional Coordinator of the School Health Education Programme, called for increased school WASH funding.
He urged the government to increase allocations for water, sanitation, and hygiene projects through the District Assemblies Common Fund.
Mr Caesar said municipal and district assemblies allocated part of the fund to WASH projects in their respective areas.
However, he said the allocation should be increased to enable more schools and communities to benefit.
Mr Caesar said the current WASH allocation was 20 per cent.
He said it comprised 10 per cent for water and 10 per cent for sanitation.
“I expect an additional two per cent for providing potable water to schools and communities,” he said.
Mr Caesar said access to clean water was vital to the successful implementation of Ghana’s School Health Education Programme.
He also stressed the importance of adequate water and hygienic toilet facilities for adolescent girls during menstruation.
He said such facilities would enable girls to manage their menstrual health with dignity and reduce absenteeism.
The facilities would also help prevent girls from dropping out of school.
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Emelia B. Addae
Email: [email protected]