President John Dramani Mahama has opened the 28th Annual conference of Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) here in Accra with a clarion call to prioritize healthcare of Africans.
According to him, investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology must drive the new era and ensure standards are maintained in online consultations.
Speaking at the opening session here in Accra on Monday, August 24, 2026, President Mahama called on Africans to own its healthcare system and ensure health systems are protected.
President Mahama said while AI enhances capacity of healthcare professionals, it must not replace professional judgment.
“Artificial intelligence must support, and not replace, professional judgement and human responsibility. Africa must participate in setting standards, generating evidence and designing technologies that reflect our populations and realities” President Mahama said.
He said over dependence on AI will may not fully represent data of patients in African and hence caution must be applied.
“AI systems must also be trained on representative data. Technologies developed using data that do not adequately represent African patients could produce inaccurate diagnoses and create serious patient-safety risks” he intimated.
He was particularly worried about the increasing cases of professional impersonation and other forms of misguided behavioral patterns which he said puts patients at risk.
“The fourth challenge is confronting forged qualifications, fake licenses, professional impersonation, fraudulent certificates, unlawful practices and misleading health claims. When a fraudulent practitioner enters a consulting room, every patient becomes vulnerable”. President Mahama stressed
The 28th Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) offers a dynamic five-day programme designed to foster collaboration, strengthen regulatory systems, and discussions, peer-learning workshops, committee meetings, networking opportunities, and social events. advance healthcare regulation across Africa.
Through keynote addresses, technical sessions, panel discussions, delegates will engage with leading experts and policymakers on the future of healthcare regulation.
Under the theme “Responsive Regulation for Safer Communities towards Universal Health Coverage”, the programme has been structured around five strategic sub-themes that reflect the priorities of African healthcare regulatory authorities and support the achievement of Agenda 2063 and Universal Health.
The conference aims to: Promote dialogue and collaboration among African healthcare regulatory authorities, Share best practices in healthcare regulation, Advance regulatory science and institutional capacity, strengthen regulatory frameworks that improve patient safety, foster innovation through partnerships and knowledge exchange and Support Africa’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
These outcomes according to the organizers will reinforce AMCOA’s vision of strengthening regulatory excellence while supporting African countries in building resilient, future-ready health systems that protect the public and improve the quality of healthcare for all.
Story by : Wisdom Hededzome
