The GMA said the security situation in the area which had over the years led to several loss of lives and properties, posed great fear to health professionals, who also refused postings to the area.  

Dr Adam Zakariah, the Regional Chairman of the GMA, made the call at a meeting with Mr. Donatus Akamugri Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister and Chairman of the REGSEC.

The leadership of the GMA, among other critical issues of concern to its members in the region, said insufficient and unattractive incentives for members, further exacerbated their refusal to accept postings to the area.  

Dr. Zakariah acknowledged that although some incentives existed for members, they had not been reviewed for some time now and therefore insufficient to attract and retain healthcare professionals, especially medical doctors to the region.   

He expressed concern that incentives of some doctors who sacrificed to stay and work in the region were sometimes delayed and appealed to the Minister of Health to intervene and ensure the timely release of these benefits.  

The GMA Chairman also called on the government to upgrade some Health Centres in the region to attain hospital status and properly equip them to operate optimally.   

Dr. Zakariah said the issue of inadequate public healthcare facilities, coupled with obsolete equipment and demotivated doctors adversely affected their professional development.   

“The few doctors in the region are not motivated to work in Health Centres because they lack the necessary logistics. Over time, such doctors become rusty,” the GMA Chairman said.   

Addressing the security concern of the Association, the Minister assured the leadership that security for healthcare professionals in Bawku would be addressed.  

He appreciated their challenge in rendering services under insecure environments and further assured them that their call to government to upgrade Health Centres into hospitals, for effective service delivery would be given attention.   

Mr. Atanga mentioned the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, also known as ‘Mahama Cares’ which aimed to provide financial support to persons with chronic health conditions and indicated that the initiative was intended to support citizens to effectively access healthcare service.   

He said the government would address the accommodation problems in the health sector, since hospital projects would have accommodation for critical healthcare professionals, to eliminate these challenges in the sector.  

On incentives, the Minister assured the GMA leadership that his office would intervene to address the challenge and appealed to members of the Association not to be despaired but continue to contribute to effective health service delivery in the Region.