A new Ghanaian grouping of healthcare workers has been formed in the UK to provide support for its members and contribute to the promotion and development of better healthcare facilities for the general Ghanaian population.

The first objective is easily achievable and does make sense, for the reason that there are so many Ghanaian healthcare professionals here in the UK who feel or are left isolated because of the lack of a coordinated and sustainable approach to bringing them together or as a result of the existence of so many splinter groupings, leaving the whole business of welfare excruciatingly confusing.

Many Ghanaian associations have been formed along and on the basis of tribe, status, educational qualifications and even politics. There have been benefits as well as drawbacks and GHAG hopes to learn and reap the positives in the interest of promoting good health.

GHAG is made up of doctors, nurses, midwives, administrators, catering staff etc. Basically in GHAG, “everyone is somebody” and that is what makes the group vibrant and interesting. We recognize that we have been fortunate to be in a system or society where access to healthcare is at our finger tips, even if the system is not perfect. A system where children born have an assured and structured immunization programme, which also consciously monitors their growth and development.. Where young girls are routinely screened for all sorts of conditions before they become problems, where the over 50s have annual health checks, where pregnant mothers are assured of “pampering” and “safe” maternity services, access to emergency and planned clinical services is taken for granted and the list can go on and on. It is fair to say that our leaders often give healthcare management less attention than it deserves. Here in the UK, that issue is so important in the psyche of the people that no one can safely win access to No. 10 without assurances that they would protect the healthcare system, because of the recognition that good health is wealth. Ghanaians will have to do same, then things may change.

Talk of Ghanaian healthcare professionals abroad conjures up images of Ghanaians who have been trained with hard public cash “brain stowing” away to seek greener lives elsewhere. But you may be wrong. There is now a pool of Ghanaian healthcare professionals of Ghanaian origin or ancestry trained at the expense of developed countries able and willing to go the other way to help the system. Sadly, bureaucracy, “jealousy and the envy disease”, bribery and bad management have left many in despair wondering if it is worth the while. GHAG is hoping to marshal the energies of healthcare professionals to contribute positively to making the “system” better.

It is the better system which the cream of our political leaders (many of who trained here) and posh individuals run to and pay big money for when they experience health problems. Tragically many never return home to their families.

If only we could all put our hands genuinely on deck and promote a “not too expensive” healthcare system that can meet the needs and aspirations of all Ghanaians.

We know the system is faulty and crooked. The hospitals are poor and disproportionately situated if not expensive and remote to access. The attitude of some healthcare workers stinks to high heavens, there is pilfering of expensive healthcare resources on an unimaginable scale, a general bad management of the system due to the lack of stability and strategic foresight.

GHAG is saying to all Ghanaian healthcare professionals home and abroad to join in with their ideas, efforts and resources to improve the system and we have the people who can do it. Let’s not sit down whilst diseases like hepatitis, HIV - aids, korshiakor etc and the specter of very unsanitary conditions engulf and consume us and our families prematurely.

Foreign NGOs, companies and governments can only do so much. GHAG is hoping to mobilize material resources here in the UK, gather ideas, campaign against waste, brain waste, slack work cultures etc which imperfects our system. We invite you to join our cause.

GHAG is non-political, non-tribal, non-anything divisive. The executives are Mr. K. Amankwa (chairperson), Dr. K. Doku (vice chair), Mr. A. Acheamfour (treasurer), Mrs. Osei-La (Organizing secretary), Mrs. F. Temeng and Mr. C. Amponsah (Education & publicity), Auntie Stella & Christie (facilities) and Mrs. Elizabeth, Georgina and M.Afreh (Welfare).

GHAG is being inaugurated on the 7th August 2010 at the Secombe Theatre in Sutton, Surrey. There are many health –related activities planned for the day including health seminars and minor checkups. We look forward to collaborating with various Ghanaian organizations and associations here in the UK and abroad to the work towards achieving the noble objectives outlined. Sponsors are welcomed.

GHAG wishes all Ghanaians and leaders good health. Come and join us.

GHAG news. (ghanaianhealthcareworkers@ymail.com)