At the Sanctuary of Wind and Fire Assemblies of God Church in Accra, the nation’s medical laboratory professionals gathered on October 30, 2025, for the Annual National Congress of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS). The event, themed “Enhancing Laboratory Resilience: Combating Emerging Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through Emerging Technologies, Collaboration and Research,” brought together experts and policymakers determined to shape the next phase of Ghana’s healthcare future.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), underscored the indispensable role of medical laboratory scientists in safeguarding the nation’s health security and strengthening its response to emerging public health threats.
Recognizing Unsung Heroes of Public Health
Reflecting on his previous appearance at the 2020 GAMLS Congress in Takoradi, Dr. Akoriyea expressed deep admiration for laboratory professionals who, often away from the public eye, form the backbone of the nation’s diagnostic and surveillance systems.
When COVID-19 struck, and when outbreaks of yellow fever and other infectious diseases challenged our system,” he said, “you stood firm. You provided data that guided national decisions, results that enabled timely treatment, and surveillance that kept communities safe. Ghana’s resilience was made visible through your expertise and dedication.”
He reminded participants that resilience is not built in emergencies but cultivated every day, emphasizing the need for constant preparedness, innovation, and capacity-building in laboratory practice.
The Growing Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance
Turning attention to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Dr. Akoriyea cautioned that the threat “grows quietly but dangerously,” rendering common treatments ineffective and reversing decades of medical progress. He described the laboratory’s role in the AMR fight as “irreplaceable,” highlighting that accurate diagnostics, resistance surveillance, and timely reporting form the backbone of effective antimicrobial stewardship.
To combat this silent epidemic, he called for full utilization of emerging technologies — genomics, artificial intelligence, and digital data systems — as well as cross-sectoral collaboration under the One Health approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health.
Strengthening the Laboratory Workforce
Dr. Akoriyea reaffirmed the Ghana Health Service’s commitment to empowering laboratory professionals through policies and programs designed to enhance skills, motivation, and infrastructure.
We cannot strengthen disease surveillance without prioritizing the workforce driving it,” he declared.
He outlined a comprehensive agenda that includes:
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and specialization programs
Structured career progression and motivation schemes
Expansion of reference laboratories nationwide
Strengthening logistics and supply chain systems
Quality assurance and accreditation of laboratory services
He further revealed that the GHS is working closely with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to finalize the scheme of service and implement improved working conditions for laboratory scientists, ensuring that Ghana retains and motivates its best professionals.
A Call for Partnership and Shared Responsibility
Dr. Akoriyea stressed that the task of strengthening laboratory systems cannot rest on one institution alone. “Resilience,” he said, “is a shared responsibility.” He called on government agencies, professional bodies, academia, and industry partners to collaborate and invest collectively in laboratory infrastructure, research, and workforce development.
He commended the ongoing management and quality improvement initiatives supported by the Ghana Health Service, assuring participants that such projects would continue and be expanded across the country’s healthcare facilities.
Renewed Commitment for the Future
Closing his address, Dr. Akoriyea paid tribute to the dedication and professionalism of Ghana’s medical laboratory workforce, describing them as central to the nation’s vision of a “safer and healthier future.”
Your work saves lives every day. Though you may often operate away from the public eye, the nation sees you, respects you, and depends on you,” he affirmed.
He encouraged participants to let professionalism and quality management principles guide their work, urging them to use the congress as a platform to forge stronger partnerships and explore innovative solutions for emerging health challenges.
Conclusion: Building a System That Anticipates, Not Reacts
As the 2025 GAMLS Congress commenced, Dr. Akoriyea’s message resonated powerfully: Ghana’s laboratory system must evolve from being reactive to being predictive and resilient. Through investment in people, technology, and collaboration, the nation can build a health system that is not shaken by threats but prepared for them.
Together,” he concluded, “let us build a laboratory system that leads with innovation, guided by science, and driven by service. May God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.”
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