BY Grace Zigah
Tensions are rising at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after the hospital’s Allied Health professionals formally protested a management decision to revoke the appointment of the Head of Laboratory Services.
In a strongly worded petition dated May 5, 2026, the Ghana Federation of Allied Health Professionals (GFAHP), Korle Bu Chapter, expressed “deep displeasure and strong objection” to the move, warning that it could undermine professional standards and disrupt industrial harmony within the facility.
The dispute centres on management’s decision—reportedly based on a directive from the hospital’s governing board—to withdraw the appointment of a Medical Laboratory Scientist as Head of Laboratory Services and instead assign oversight of the Central Laboratory to the Director of Medical Affairs.
According to the GFAHP, the decision contradicts a prior agreement reached during a stakeholder meeting convened by the Ministry of Health Ghana on February 3, 2026.
At that meeting, participants—including hospital management—agreed that a qualified Medical Laboratory Scientist should be appointed to head the Laboratory Services Sub-BMC to ensure accountability, professional integrity, and effective governance.
The Federation argues that reversing this decision not only breaches that consensus but also threatens established regulatory frameworks governing allied health practice.
It further warned that the move risks eroding confidence in stakeholder engagements and could destabilise ongoing collaboration within the hospital.
In the petition addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the group called for the immediate reversal of the decision and urged management to align its actions with the outcomes of the earlier Ministry-led engagement.
“This development has generated serious concern across the entire Allied Health fraternity at Korle Bu,” the statement noted, emphasising the potential implications for professional autonomy and service delivery.
While reaffirming its commitment to dialogue, professionalism, and peace, the Federation signalled that it may resort to lawful collective action if the issue remains unresolved.
Copies of the petition were forwarded to key stakeholders, including the Minister for Health, the National Labour Commission, and other relevant unions and authorities, underscoring the gravity of the matter.
