The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is making a strong case for the cancellation of certificate and diploma nursing programmes in the country, advocating for all nursing education to be elevated to the degree level.
This significant shift aims to address the challenges in the country’s healthcare sector by ensuring a more qualified and professional nursing workforce.
Prof. Ernest Yorke, Vice President of the GMA, stressed the need for a more skilled nursing population, stating that the current system is “bizarre” with three different levels of entry into the nursing and midwifery profession.
He highlighted the dominance of auxiliary nurses, who make up almost 60% of the workforce, and stressed the need for degree-prepared nurses to become the majority.
Drawing comparisons with Nigeria, where a first degree is mandatory for registered nurses and midwives, Prof Yorke argued that Ghana has the necessary resources and educational institutions to implement similar standards.
The GMA’s recommendation to elevate nursing education to the degree level is a crucial step towards enhancing the quality of Ghana’s healthcare system.
