After meeting the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says current healthcare approaches need rethinking; discussions covered workforce retention, pay, rural deployment, infrastructure, emergency readiness and a proposed extra licensing exam for local doctors.
Bawumia met the GMA National Executive Committee at Korle Bu on Sept 28 as part of wider stakeholder consultations ahead of the 2028 election.
Main issues discussed: health-worker retention and migration, remuneration, doctor distribution to underserved areas, infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and conditions of service.
The Medical and Dental Council’s proposal for an additional licensing exam for locally trained doctors was a major topic during the meeting.
# What happened Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia met the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) National Executive Committee at the GMA headquarters in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on September 28. The session formed part of Bawumia's wider consultations with stakeholders ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
# Who led the meeting The GMA delegation was led by its president, Professor (Dr) Ernest Yorke. Participants focused on concrete problems facing doctors and the health system.
# Issues discussed The meeting covered several operational and policy problems affecting the health sector:
# Bawumia's response and proposed direction Bawumia said the engagement convinced him Ghana's healthcare policies require a fundamental change. He pointed to ideas raised at the meeting as having potential implications for medical professionals and the broader health sector if implemented. He framed the objective as building a health system that is resilient, patient-centred and accessible to communities across the country.
# Political context The meeting was one of several stakeholder consultations Bawumia is conducting as part of his campaign outreach ahead of the 2028 election. He thanked the GMA leadership and members for candid contributions and commitment to improving care.
# Why this matters now The issues raised — workforce migration, pay, rural doctor distribution, infrastructure and emergency readiness — affect service availability across Ghana. The Medical and Dental Council's proposal for an extra licensing exam speaks directly to the training-to-practice pathway for locally educated doctors and could change how newly trained physicians enter the workforce.
# Concrete next steps mentioned
# Bottom line The GMA meeting produced a clear political signal: leading presidential contenders are engaging directly with medical professionals on operational and regulatory problems. The conversation included both personnel issues and systemic reforms, and Bawumia framed the outcome as a call for a different policy approach to make the health system stronger and more accessible.
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