Korle Bu Allied Health staff demand creation of directorate and reinstatement of department head

Allied Health Professionals at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital staged a peaceful protest on Friday, calling for the immediate establishment of a dedicated directorate for their department at the hospital’s Central Laboratory.

The group is also demanding the reinstatement of a former Head of Department, whose removal they allege was unlawful, as well as greater autonomy in managing their professional affairs within Ghana’s premier referral hospital.

According to the protesting staff, Allied Health Professionals play a central role in healthcare delivery and should be granted leadership authority over their own department without external interference from hospital management or supervising bodies.

Speaking during the demonstration, Public Relations Officer of the association, Dr Gloria Amagachi, stressed the importance of recognising the profession’s expanding responsibilities and expertise in modern healthcare delivery.

She stated that Allied Health Professionals contribute significantly to clinical diagnosis and patient care outcomes across the hospital system.

“We contribute to about 70 per cent of the diagnosis that they give to patients,” she said.

Dr Amagachi further explained that the profession has evolved considerably, with many members now holding advanced qualifications and specialisations that position them to take on leadership roles.

“So, we are competent enough to lead our own people,” she added.

She noted that the department now includes consultants and specialists capable of independently managing administrative and technical leadership responsibilities.

“We have different specialisations, different consultants who can lead our own people. So, leave us to lead our people,” she said.

A key demand raised by the group is the reinstatement of a former Head of Department, whose appointment they claim was revoked without proper justification. The protesters insist that the decision must be reversed as a matter of urgency.

“We demand the reinstatement of our HOD, whose appointment has been unlawfully revoked. So, we want that reinstatement to be done as soon as possible,” Dr Amagachi said.

The group also called on hospital authorities and the Ministry of Health to recognise the need for a structured Allied Health Directorate to improve governance and service delivery within the hospital.

They argue that such a directorate is essential for strengthening healthcare systems and improving coordination across diagnostic and support services.

In a statement read during the protest, the group emphasised that Allied Health Professionals play indispensable roles in diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, research, and broader healthcare support services.

“A properly structured Allied Health Directorate is therefore not merely an administrative matter. It is essential to strengthen healthcare delivery at Ghana’s premier teaching hospital,” the statement said.

The protesters maintained that their demonstration was not intended to disrupt hospital operations but to draw attention to what they described as long-standing structural and administrative challenges affecting their work.

“This morning, we have made a statement with our procession. And this statement is for all and sundry,” the group said.

They further assured the public that their actions are aimed at safeguarding patient interests and improving healthcare delivery standards.

“It is first to assure the general public that we will do whatever is important and necessary to safeguard their interest,” they added.

The group has called on hospital management and government authorities to engage them in dialogue to resolve the issues and improve institutional efficiency at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.