The Medical and Dental Council (MDC) of Ghana has officially launched preparations for the 28th Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA), which will be held in Accra from August 23 to 27, 2026.
The conference, to be hosted at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel, will be held under the theme: “Responsive Regulation for Safer Communities towards Universal Health Coverage.”
The announcement was made by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Divine Ndonbi Banyubala, during a media launch at the Council’s headquarters in Accra.
Addressing the media, Dr. Banyubala described the conference as a significant continental platform aimed at shaping the future of healthcare regulation across Africa.
He explained that AMCOA, the Association of Medical Councils of Africa, brings together medical and dental regulatory authorities across the continent to promote high standards in medical education, professional registration, ethical practice, regulatory science and public protection.
According to him, the organisation’s mission is to ensure that Africans can have confidence in the competence, professionalism and accountability of healthcare practitioners.
Dr. Banyubala noted that emerging challenges such as digital health, Artificial Intelligence, cross-border movement of health professionals, disease outbreaks and humanitarian crises require regulatory systems that are responsive, adaptive and fit for purpose.
The five-day conference will bring together regulators, policymakers, professional associations, academics and development partners to discuss strategies for strengthening healthcare regulation across the continent.
Discussions will focus on key areas including strengthening transparent and responsive regulatory systems, promoting research and innovation, harmonising professional standards to facilitate workforce mobility, deploying technology to combat fraud and quackery, and maintaining regulatory standards during conflicts and emergencies.
A joint workshop involving the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region will also form part of the conference programme.
President John Dramani Mahama is expected to officially open the conference on Monday, August 24, while the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, is scheduled to close the event on Wednesday, August 26.
The conference is expected to attract more than 315 participants, including representatives of medical and dental councils from across Africa, allied health regulatory bodies, professional associations, academic institutions, health insurance organisations and development partners.
The scientific sessions have also been accredited with 13 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit points for healthcare practitioners in Ghana.
Dr. Banyubala said Ghana was selected to host the conference because of its democratic stability, hospitality and ongoing reforms within the health sector, including government’s agenda to strengthen health sovereignty across Africa.
He noted that hosting the conference would provide Ghana with an opportunity to showcase its achievements while learning from best practices across the continent.
The Medical and Dental Council appealed to corporate organisations, development partners and the media to support the successful organisation of the conference.
Current sponsors include ECFMG, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), GOIL, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), International SOS and the Ghana Medical Association, while CitI FM/TV and Peace FM are serving as media partners.
Registration for the conference is currently open through the Medical and Dental Council’s official website.
