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Ghana Medical and Dental Council reports 17 doctors with mental health conditions
via GhanaWeb1 min read
The Ghana Medical and Dental Council has reported that 17 medical practitioners are experiencing mental health conditions, with an additional 12 battling substance abuse. This information was shared by Dr. Divine Banyubala, Registrar of the Council, during a session with Parliament's Health Committee. Dr. Banyubala noted that some practitioners with mental illness also struggle with substance use. The Council has established a health assessment panel to review mental health referrals. A stakeholder conference held in February 2026 led to a consensus for the Council to conduct a baseline study on mental health and fitness to practice among healthcare workers in Ghana. Discussions also covered healthcare system resilience and workplace arrangements for healthcare workers needing care.
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Professor Douglass Boateng, a governance advocate and Pan-Africanist, called for a renewed focus on values-based governance in Ghana, urging citizens to prioritize national and continental development over partisan politics. Speaking at the 2026 Law Week celebration, themed "Corporate Governance Rebooted: From Rules to Transformation," he expressed concern over the country's increasing political polarization. Professor Boateng stressed that governance should be guided by society's collective interest, not political affiliations. He highlighted his advocacy for instilling governance principles in young people to prepare them for leadership, emphasizing a "Ghana first, Africa first" mindset. He also argued that good governance begins at home, where values, ethics, and character are developed, challenging the misconception that it is solely a corporate concept. Professor Boateng believes that addressing Ghana's governance challenges requires cultivating a culture of selflessness and responsibility. He reaffirmed his commitment to Pan-Africanism, stating that Africa's progress depends on greater unity to achieve economic emancipation.
Must ReadProfessor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, stated that the increasing cost of politics in Africa is undermining democracy, fostering corruption, and eroding public trust in state institutions. Speaking at the High-Level Regional Convening on the Financialisation of Politics in Africa in Accra, Professor Prempeh highlighted that the expense of contesting elections is making political participation difficult for ordinary citizens. He noted that the true cost of elections, even for internal party positions, in countries like Ghana, often exceeds current estimates. Professor Prempeh explained that unregulated political financing enables wealthy elites, domestic cartels, and foreign interests to influence political parties and elections, marginalizing women, youth, and the middle class. He added that politicians frequently seek to recoup significant campaign expenses through corruption once in office, and costly elections also heighten the risk of electoral violence and diminish public confidence in democratic institutions. The three-day convening aims to produce the Accra Declaration, a continental pledge to enhance transparency, accountability, and integrity in political financing across Africa.
Ghana's Minority Caucus in Parliament staged a walkout on July 15, 2026, after First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor ruled against a supplementary question from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Afenyo-Markin sought clarification from the Minister of Communication regarding the cost and procurement procedures for the government's planned SIM card re-registration. The Deputy Speaker deemed the question outside the scope of the original inquiry. Afenyo-Markin accused the First Deputy Speaker of using parliamentary rules to impede the Minority's oversight functions and frustrate members, stating that the supplementary question was relevant and in the public interest, particularly concerning the cost of the SIM registration to the nation. He cited Parliament's Standing Order 89.1, which permits supplementary questions for clarification based on a minister's answer. Afenyo-Markin indicated that the walkout was a culmination of ongoing frustrations with the Deputy Speaker's conduct, but confirmed the Minority would return to the chamber for other parliamentary business.