PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GHANA (PSGH) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING/CONFERENCE – SOME INSIGHTS GATHERED
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana held their Annual General Meeting and raised issues of concerns including illegal mining activities, those bothering their welfare and how they can maximize their production of effective medicines to treat existing and emerging ailments among the public.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) organized their Annual General Meeting/ Conference at the historic City of Oguaa, in the central region of Ghana (University of Cape Coast), and it is lasting between the period of 22nd to 27th September, 2025. The conference themed – “Strengthening Pharmacy for Primary Health Care”, is basically focused on Pharmacists, standing at the forefront of health service delivery and for them to continue advancing their performance/role in primary health care services, as never before. Again, the meeting which brought together President of PSGH (Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh), Stakeholders, Planning Committee Members, Governing Board Members, media and many more; is to reflect renewed commitment of anchoring Pharmaceutical services within Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage agenda, and for the WHO’s strategy to be revitalized for primary health care services across every region of Ghana.
At the conference, Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh, President of the PSGH, who doubles as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman for Cedar Point Chemist Limited stated that, the continual heavily pollution of water bodies owing to illegal mining (galamsey) activities, is increasingly making it difficult and expensive for Pharmaceutical Companies to manufacture drugs and medicines, since vegetation/trees that aid in this production are been clear down. According to him, water pollution is one of the gravest threat confronting public health and this is causing various diseases and health issues among citizens; and Ghana who is currently facing this crisis has its leaders not also rapidly solving the menace, because it is alleged that some members of the political class are involved in the activity and also in the known.
Apart from this, Dr. Samuel mentioned that previously, Ghana used to enjoy self-sufficiency in terms of locally produced infusions. But currently, local manufacturers are unable to produce these intravenous infusions in Ghana, due to the contamination of water bodies and its associated chemicals. He then cautioned that, if care is not taken in the coming years and this environmental degradation continues, Ghana may soon face the grim reality of importing water to support local manufacturing industries or even to drink. Again, the situation may lead Ghana into facing high cost of living and high cost of medicines; on the account that, it will result in the urgency of getting expensive technologies to treat water before, it can be used domestically and at factories.
Dr. Donkoh further stressed that, pollution from these mining activities is destructing forest reserves, to the extent of threatening the ‘mere existence of medicinal plants’ and also killing operators. Since recently, reports from Chamber of Mines even revealed that, not less than 150 people have lost their lives, as a result of galamsey activities and as such, government MUST act now. He then, called on government to take urgent actions as soon as possible to end these lawlessness activities and reiterated that, the environment in which we live in calls for every individual to also take a responsibility into ensuring that, it is protected at every level to help secure the future of other generations.
World Pharmacists Day 2025 Emerged and Commemorated
As part of the activities held under the AGM (Annual General Meeting), members of the Pharmaceutical Society in Ghana also deemed it a responsibility, to celebrate their World Pharmacist Day. The occasion which is instituted by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), and usually marked on 25th September in every year, highlighted the pivotal role Pharmacists play in advancing health globally. This year with the theme – Think Health, Think Pharmacist, resounded a call to reposition pharmacists as the central figures in healthcare delivery and for them to also continue strengthening their contributions towards achieving national and global health goals.
Notwithstanding, the day reminded the public of the need to tackle the “Silent Epidemic: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs); which includes – hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers etcetera, and for Pharmacists to continue delivering preventive health solutions or services to optimize treatment outcomes. The day also reminded members on the need to play their part of adopting healthy lifestyles in reducing the menace.
In conclusion, new leaders to head the various departments under the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) were elected. In which, Dr. Raymond Agbadi, the Vice Chairman for the association was re-elected as the Chairman for the Industrial Pharmacist Association and many other positions that were been renewed and headed by new people.
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