By Ghana News
By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, July 3, GNA 鈥 Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, has lauded the Ghana Dental Association for its initiative to develop a website enhancing public access to oral health information and connecting with dental professionals.
He described the intervention as a bold step in improving oral healthcare delivery and ensuring better communication between the public and service providers.
The commendation was in a speech read on his behalf by Dr. Lawrence Ankrah, at the 34th Annual General Congress of the Ghana Dental Association held in the eastern regional capital, Koforidua.
The event was on the theme: 鈥淒ental Quackery in Ghana: The Silent Epidemic 鈥 Awareness, Action, Accountability. 鈥
Prof. Akoriyea noted that the rise of misleading advertisement coupled with unregulated dental practices by dental quacks was jeopardizing public health, especially oral health.
Therefore, it was incumbent on the Association to promote public education campaigns to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their oral health.
He explained that dental quackery referred to the provision of unsafe or unethical dental care by individuals lacking proper qualifications or expertise.
He emphasized the urgent need for the Dental Department to establish a comprehensive database for managing patient information, noting that without reliable data, dental quackery would persist and pose even greater risks to public health.
鈥淲e need our regions, districts, sub-districts at all levels of care to be well equipped with dentists so that the communities benefit from their services,鈥 he said, urging that 鈥淧ractitioners must accept postings to district level facilities.鈥
He urged the Ghana Dental Association and the Dental Council to build an oral health signal system that could track and monitor success.
The Director-General announced ongoing efforts to reactivate mobile dental vans, aimed at reaching underserved communities with limited access to qualified dental professionals.
In her address, Dr. Cecilia A. Kakrabah-Quarshie, President of the Ghana Dental Association, cited findings from Bakhtawer Aziz et al. (2023), which underscored low socioeconomic status,
inadequate awareness, and limited accessibility as key factors driving patients toward unqualified practitioners.
Dental quackery in Ghana has become a silent epidemic. Individuals without formal training or licensing are performing procedures that inflict serious harm; physically, emotionally, and financially, according to experts.
In response, the association is prioritizing awareness, action, and accountability, Dr. Kakrabah-Quarshie said, outlining plans to intensify public education efforts across clinics, schools, media platforms, and online spaces.
These campaigns will emphasize the importance of seeking care from licensed professionals, while reinforcing the association鈥檚 commitment to integrity and ethical practice.
She urged corporate sponsors and partners to invest in mobile clinics, outreach initiatives, and public education.
She also called on policymakers and regulators to strengthen decentralised services and rigorously enforce licensure laws.
She further appealed to law enforcement agencies to actively monitor, report, and prosecute offenders 鈥 even if those individuals operated within their own ranks.
鈥淚 am pleased to share that the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service have recently taken a keen interest in oral health. We at the GDA stand ready to partner with them fully 鈥 in policy making, implementation and advocacy, 鈥 she said.
Dr. Kakrabah-Quarshie indicated that the association鈥檚 initiatives were in alignment with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-being, SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.
She noted that these global benchmarks reinforced the Ghana Dental Association鈥檚 commitment to equitable and impactful oral health interventions.
The congress featured an exhibition, which showcased a range of dental products and services.
Edited by D.I. Laary/Christian Akorlie