The Ghana Optometric Association (GOA) has appealed to the government to urgently employ qualified optometrists who have been left unemployed for the past five years.

According to the Association, the government’s failure to recruit new optometrists has left more than 250 trained professionals without postings, despite the growing need for eye care services across the country.

Speaking at the Association’s 13th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Session held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, the President of GOA, Prof. Samuel Bert iBoadi-Kusi, said the lack of employment opportunities is worsening the shortage of eye care professionals, especially in district hospitals.

“The shortage of optometrists in district hospitals is affecting access to quality eye care.

We urge the government to take immediate steps to recruit our members to fill these gaps,” he appealed.

Prof. Boadi-Kusi also expressed concern over delayed payments by private health insurance companies, warning that optometrists may be forced to suspend services to clients if the issue is not resolved.

He revealed that more than 120 optometric centres nationwide have been affected, with some facilities waiting for up to two years to receive payments for services rendered.

“Despite several engagements, many insurance companies have failed to honour their obligations.

If these debts are not cleared soon, our members may have no option but to suspend services,” he cautioned.

 

The GOA President called for prompt action from both the government and private sector stakeholders to safeguard the future of eye care delivery in Ghana, stressing that sustained neglect could undermine the country’s progress in public health and vision care.