Report filed by Pharm. Emmanuel Oppong

 

Accra, March 25, 2026- The Secretariat of the Government & Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) hosted a high-level working visit by the Director of Human Resources of the Ministry of Health Ghana, Mr. Frederick Mensah Acheampong, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen engagement with key stakeholders in the health sector.

The meeting brought together GHOSPA leadership, led by National Chairman Dr (Pharm) Emmanuel Owusu Owiafe, alongside members of the association and representatives from the Pharmacy Technicians Association of Ghana (PTAG).

In his opening remarks, Mr. Acheampong explained that the visit formed part of a deliberate initiative to engage health sector unions directly, rather than waiting for formal representations. He emphasized his commitment to understanding the unique structure of the pharmacy profession and to listening firsthand to the concerns of practitioners, with the aim of collaboratively identifying practical and sustainable solutions.

Delivering a presentation, Dr. Owusu Owiafe outlined GHOSPA’s structure, membership, and the critical role hospital pharmacists play within Ghana’s public health system. He highlighted several pressing challenges affecting members, including unresolved issues with Conditions of Service, difficulties with the posting of pharmacy house officers, and the persistent non-recruitment of pharmacists into the public sector; an issue he noted is placing considerable strain on the existing workforce.

Additional concerns raised included disparities in study leave policies compared to other health professionals, delays in the establishment of specialty roles for pharmacists, and ongoing jurisdictional conflicts in the management of pharmacy stores within some health facilities.

Responding to the concerns, the MOH Director of HR acknowledged the issues and provided assurance of the Ministry’s commitment to addressing them. Notably, he indicated that steps are being taken to engage relevant authorities to improve pharmacist recruitment numbers within the year, signaling a positive shift on a key issue affecting the profession.

He further assured GHOSPA leadership that all other matters raised would be addressed through the Ministry’s established processes, reinforcing the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration.

The meeting marks a significant step toward strengthening relations between the Ministry and hospital pharmacists, with both parties expressing optimism about ongoing engagement and progress on critical workforce and policy issues.