Northern Regional Minister urges opticians to strengthen eye care practice

The Northern Regional Minister, Hon Ali Adolf John, urged opticians in the region to strengthen their practice. He made the call at the 13th Annual General Conference and Clinical Workshop of the Opticians Association of Ghana, held on 2nd October 2026 at HSWU Pride Hotel in Tamale, under the theme 'Strengthening Opticianry Practice in Ghana: Quality Care and Emerging Technologies'.

The Minister's speech was read on his behalf by the Director of Administration of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Mr Baba Ahmed Abdul Rahman. The Minister commended the leadership and membership of the Association for their commitment to professional excellence and their service to the people of Ghana.

He said a child who sees clearly can learn better, and a driver with proper vision can protect lives on the road. He said opticians' work goes beyond prescribing or dispensing spectacles, and can prevent avoidable visual impairment and restore functional vision.

The Minister said Government recognises that the health of Ghanaians is fundamental to national development. He urged the Association to strengthen professional standards, embrace emerging technologies, and expand quality eye care to underserved communities beyond cities and towns.

In his own remarks, the National President of the Opticians Association of Ghana, Mr Franck Quarshie Ofori, said the conference theme was a call to action. He said unlicensed operators are spreading across communities and dispensing substandard lenses, putting Ghanaians' sight at risk, noting that about 44% of Ghanaians are visually impaired due to uncorrected refractive errors. He urged the Association to be innovative and keep upgrading its technology.