The Council of Presidents of the Ghana Federation of Allied Health Professionals (GFAHP) has formally advised its members not to apply for the Deputy Medical Affairs Director (Allied Health) position advertised by Korle Bu Teaching Hospital or any other hospital.

According to the Council, Allied Health is the largest regulated health profession in Ghana, so it has requested the board of Korle Bu to establish a Directorate of Allied Health to help direct its affairs.

Yet the Council has still not received a response, only to see an advertisement requesting applications for the position of Deputy Medical Affairs Director (Allied Health).

As such, in a statement signed by the President of GFAHPs Dr Shiraz Issahaku and other executives, the Council strongly advised all Allied Health Professionals against applying for or accepting any positions that do not acknowledge their unique professional characteristics.

"The Council of Presidents wish to bring to the attention of the entire membership of GFAHPs that
Allied health professions is NOT a subspecialty under any existing profession. Part one of Act
857, 2013, is clear to all that Allied Health professions are the largest regulated health profession
in Ghana.

"Under no condition should any Allied Health Professional apply and accept any position
which does not take into consideration our unique characteristics, including a position described
as Deputy Medical Affairs Director (Allied Health) in any Teaching Hospital," the statement read.

The Council stands firmly on existing protocols and policy documents from the Ministry of Health (MOH) regarding the appointment of directors, as implemented by Ho and Tamale Teaching Hospitals (HTH and THH) and endorsed by the Public Service Commission.

The Council urged the management of all teaching hospitals to take the necessary steps to appoint Directors of Allied Health, instead of creating pseudo-nomenclature positions for appointments.

The Council made it clear that the law does not recognise such positions, and Allied Health Professionals will be unable to support or cooperate with anyone who applies for and accepts such appointments.

The letter added that "The law and for that matter Allied Health Professionals does not recognize such a position and as such we will be unable to support and cooperate with any person who applies and accepts such appointment."

The leadership of the GFAHP hopes that their petitions to the various boards and managements of teaching hospitals and the Ghana Health Service will be respected, leading to the establishment of Directorates of Allied Health at all teaching hospitals and within the Ghana Health Service, as mandated by the MOH, HTH, and THH.

In the meantime, the Council reaffirmed their demand for fair and equitable appointments at all teaching hospitals and the Ghana Health Service, insisting that this demand remains in force until it is fully respected by all relevant authorities.