Article 1: Name
The name of the Association shall be GHANA ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATION. This includes all clinicians involved in the management of all orthopaedic conditions and musculoskeletal trauma.
Article 2: Objectives
A. Promote continuous medical education and ethics.
B. Improve the clinical practice of orthopaedic and trauma care.
C. Promote research and evidence-based practice.
D. Promote training of specialties involved in orthopaedic and trauma care.
E. Hold regular scientific sessions.
F. Disseminate information in current practice through the publication of articles in journals, newsletters, and other public media.
Article 3: Membership
a. Active Member shall be elected from:
i. Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeons who, having passed the appropriate specialist examinations have been licensed to practice in Ghana by the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana.
b. Emeritus Member-(One who has attained 65yrs or is 60 yrs and applied) may be elected from active members and/or distinguished orthopaedic surgeons who have retired from active service, and known to have made outstanding contributions to the practice of Orthopaedics and Trauma surgery.
c. Honorary members may be elected from persons of distinction who have made outstanding contributions to the progress of orthopaedic and trauma surgery.
d. Associate Member may be elected from:
i. Medical practitioners who are in training or have had training in orthopaedic surgery in any recognized institutions.
e. Allied Member may be elected from:
i. Medical practitioners engaged in clinical and non-clinical fields related to orthopaedic and trauma surgery.
f. Affiliate Members may be elected from:
i. Persons, Institutions, or companies in the technical, equipment manufacturing, engineering, and scientific fields related to orthopaedics who are in active support of the aims and objectives of the Association.
g. International Affiliate Member
i. International Orthopaedic surgeons who, though not resident in Ghana, do visit and practice.
ii. International Resident
Article 4: Duties and Benefits
4.1 All members shall uphold the ideals, aims, and objectives of the Association provided for in this Constitution.
4.2 a. Active Members Shall be entitled to the full benefits of corporate membership with regard to the right to vote and be voted for, and hold offices in the Association.
b. They shall attend meetings and participate actively in the programs of the Association.
c. Project the Association in the best possible manner.
4.3 Emeritus Members shall enjoy the same privileges as full members except the right to hold office.
4.4 Associate /International/Honorary members may enjoy the same rights and privileges but cannot exercise the right to vote or hold office.
4.5 Associate, Allied, Affiliate and International Members/Residents shall enjoy all privileges of the Association but cannot vote or hold office
4.6 Allied and Affiliate members cannot hold office or vote and cannot attend business meetings.
Article 5: Election of Members
5.1 Application for election as full member or associate member shall be made in writing on an official application form to the honorary secretary of the Association and each applicant shall be nominated by 2 (two) active members.
5.2 Nomination of candidates for emeritus, honorary, associate, affiliate, and international membership may be made by an active member and supported by at least 2(two) other active members.
5.3 All such nominations for election shall be screened by the membership committee and presented to Executive Council.
5.4 Active Members may submit names for consideration for election into any category of membership to the Secretary, who will then forward it to the Executive Council.
5.5 Elections shall be by the vote of the majority at the General Business Meeting.
Article 6: Grievances and Discipline
6.1 Discipline
a. A member of the Association shall be subject to disciplinary proceedings for an act of indiscipline.
b. An act of indiscipline shall be defined as an act which has been adjudged by the Association based on acceptable professional ethics to have brought the profession into disrepute.
6.2 Disciplinary Action
A member found guilty of an act of indiscipline after due process may be subjected to any of the following levels of disciplinary action:
a. Reprimand
b. Suspension from office
c. Suspension from membership
d. Termination of membership
6.3 Appeal Procedure
Refer to Article 7(seven)
6.4 Discipline of Officers
a. An officer found wanting may be suspended temporarily from office on a motion supported by a two-third majority at a National Executive Council meeting.
b. Following a suspension, the officer shall remain suspended and the matter referred to the Disciplinary Committee.
6.5 Professional misconduct
This shall be resolved in consultation with the Ghana Medical and Dental Council and Ghana Medical Association.
Article 7: Cessation of Membership
7.1 Resignation:
Any Member wishing to withdraw from the Association shall give notice in writing to the Secretary not less than twelve (12) weeks before an Annual General Meeting. The withdrawal shall be valid after acceptance by the Executive Council.
7.2 A. Termination of Membership
The Executive Council shall have power to sanction or recommend termination of the membership of any member deemed by the Executive Council to have been guilty of conduct, contrary to the interest of the Association, or to have been disobedient to its rules; or guilty of an unprofessional act or public misdemeanor, provided that the person concerned shall be notified of the proposed action not less than twelve(12) weeks before the Annual General Meeting.
Any member whose membership has been terminated by the Executive Council shall have a right to appeal to the Executive Council, by entering a defense.
This defense involves writing an application to the honorary Secretary within two(2) months of receiving the request for his termination.
Expulsion of a member cannot come into effect until ratified at an Annual General Meeting
B. Cessation of Membership may come into effect as provided for in Article 8.6(a) of this Constitution.
Article 8: Funds and Dues
5.1 Application for election as full member or associate member shall be made in writing on an official application form to the honorary secretary of the Association and each applicant shall be nominated by 2 (two) active members.
5.2 Nomination of candidates for emeritus, honorary, associate, affiliate, and international membership may be made by an active member and supported by at least 2(two) other active members.
5.3 All such nominations for election shall be screened by the membership committee and presented to Executive Council.
5.4 Active Members may submit names for consideration for election into any category of membership to the Secretary, who will then forward it to the Executive Council.
5.5 Elections shall be by the vote of the majority at the General Business Meeting.
Article 9: Finance
9.1 The Association’s financial year shall be from the 1st day of January to the 31st day of December of each year, both days inclusive.
9.2 No member of any committee or sub-committee shall incur any expenses on behalf of the Association except with the written authority of the President, Secretary, or Treasurer.
9.3 When expenditure is expedient and justifiable in the interest of the Association and a case supporting this is made to the President; the President shall authorize the acquisition of this liability on behalf of the Association and report this appropriately to the Executive Council.
9.4 a. The Association shall retain the services of the following in the full and legal exercise of its financial business:
i. An accountant/auditor to be nominated by the Executive Council and report to the General Business meeting
ii. Internal Auditors where desired may be appointed as provided for elsewhere in this Constitution.
iii. Banker(s) for the safekeeping of its monies and other valuables.
iv. The auditors shall audit the account of the Association once a year or sooner if necessary and submit the audit report alongside the Treasurer’s report through the Executive Council to the Annual General Meeting. (AGM)
v. The bankers to the Association shall be decided by the Executive Council and ratified at an AGM.
b. The following three officers shall be official signatories to the bank on behalf of the Association :
i. The President
ii. The Secretary
iii. The Treasurer
c. Any two signatories shall be adequate for normal business transactions.
Article 10: Officers of the Association
10.1 Officers
a. President
b. Vice- President
c. General Secretary
d. Treasurer
e. Deputy General Secretary
f. Editorial Secretary/ Scientific Meeting Coordinator
10.2 Election of Officers
10.2.1 Notices of vacancies shall be sent out at least 12 weeks in advance of an Annual General Meeting to all members calling for nominations to the vacant posts.
10.2.2 Nominations shall be supported by at least two full members
10.2.3 In the event of there being more than one nomination for a post, elections shall be by majority vote at an Annual General Meeting.
10.2.4 Voting shall be by secret ballot and where there exists a tie, there should be a re-run.
10.3 Functions of Officers
a. The President shall be the chief spokesperson of the Association and shall preside at all business meetings of the Executive Council. The President shall deliver a President’s address at the AGM.
b. The Vice President shall deputize on all occasions while the President is absent. If the President ceases to hold office during his term, the Vice President shall become President for the remainder of the term.
c. The Secretary shall be responsible for the organization and keep minutes of all Business Meetings and meetings of the Executive Council. He shall conduct the correspondence of the Association and arrange for the publication of the Annual Report of the Association.
d. The Deputy Secretary shall assist the Secretary and shall deputize when the Secretary is absent.
e. The Treasurer shall collect all monies due to the Association and shall lodge the same to the bank. He shall present an account of the finances of the Association and of any other funds that the Association may possess each year to the AGM.
f. The Editorial Secretary/Scientific Meeting Coordinator shall be responsible for coordination and planning of the scientific meeting of the Association. He shall prepare available and suitable material for publication.
10.4 Tenure of Office
10.4.1 All officers shall commence their term of office on the last day of the Annual General Meeting in which they are elected.
10.4.2 Term of office for all officers shall be two(2) years, which is renewable.
10.4.3 No member shall hold the same office for more than two(2) consecutive terms without a break of one term except for the Editorial Secretary/Scientific Meeting Coordinator.
Article 11: Executive Council
11.1 Composition
i. Elected Officers of the Association.
ii. 2 (two) members elected by AGM
iii. Immediate past President
iv. Heads of Departments of the Orthopaedics and Trauma of the Teaching hospitals
11.2 Responsibilities
a. The Executive Council shall control the affairs of the Association, its funds, and assets.
b. The Executive Council shall have power to remit, reduce or suspend the subscription of any member at its discretion.
C. The Executive Council shall have the power to fill vacant posts that occur among Officers during its tenure except for the posts of President and Vice President.
Article 12: Committees
12.1 Standing Committees
There shall be the following Standing Committees:
a. Membership Committee
b. Education Committee
c. Disciplinary Committee
d. Bye-Laws Committee
e. Any other that the Association may create on the advice of the executive council
12.2 Appointment of Committee Members
a. All committees and their officers shall be appointed by the Executive Council.
b. Appointment of member(s) of the Standing Committees shall be ratified at the General Business Meeting.
c. The members may be re-appointed annually to a maximum of four years and thereafter shall be eligible for further re-appointment after one year’s retirement.
12.3 Committees shall have the power to co-opt members and shall be recorded in the written report of the committee
12.4 A report of the proceedings of each committee shall be presented annually to the Executive Council.
Article 13: Internal Auditors
13.1 The Annual General Meeting shall appoint an Internal Auditor(s) among its members who shall periodically vet the account of the association during the year.
13.2 Internal Auditor(s) shall not be a member(s) of the Executive Council
13.3 They shall present reports through the President to the General Business Meetings
Article 14: Meetings
14.1 There shall be the following categories of meetings in the association
a. Business Meeting
i. Annual General Meeting
ii. Emergency General Meeting
iii. Executive Council Meeting
iv. Emergency Executive Council Meeting
b. Plenary Sessions
c. Scientific Meetings/ Conferences
14.2 Annual General Meeting
14.2.1 An Annual General Meeting shall be held within the first two(2) weeks in May of each year at times and places to be decided by a General Meeting. Elections shall hold at an Annual General Meeting.
14.2.2 The Executive Council shall however have discretion to alter these arrangements where compelling circumstances arise.
14.2.3 The Annual General Meeting shall consist of two parts:
a. A scientific Meeting
b. A General Business Meeting
14.3 Emergency General Meeting
a. The Executive Council or the President on its behalf shall where the occasion so warrants, summon an Emergency General Meeting of the association.
b. The President shall call an Emergency General Meeting at the most expedient time and place but within 21 days of receiving a request in writing demanding such a meeting. This request must be signed by not less than 25% of active members in good standing.
14.4 All members shall be entitled to attend the General Business Meeting and participate in the deliberations, but only Active Members in good financial standing shall be entitled to vote.
14.5 Executive Council Meeting
a. The Executive Council shall meet at least quarterly in a year.
b. At least twenty-one (21) days’ notice shall be given for an Executive Council Meeting specifying the date, time, and place of the meeting.
14.6 Quorum- General
Annual General Meeting:
a. No business shall be transacted at an Annual General Meeting unless a quorum has been formed at the time the meeting proceeds into business.
b. Such a quorum shall be 50% of Active members in the current register who have registered and present.
14.7 Quorum- Executive Council
Shall consist of the following:
1. President, or Deputy
2. General Secretary, or Deputy
3. Treasurer, and
4. 2 (two) other members of the Executive Council.
5. Residents Representative
Article 15: Bye-Laws
15.1 There shall be bye-laws that shall provide for procedural guides to the operations of the association.
15.2 Bye-Laws shall be prepared by the Bye-Laws Committee and submitted to Executive Council.
15.3 Approval of Bye-Laws shall require a simple affirmation vote of the Annual General Meeting.
15.4 No provision of the By-Laws shall be in conflict with the provisions of the Constitution. Where any inconsistency arises, the provisions of the Constitution shall prevail.
Article 16: Amendment to the Constitution
16.1 The Constitution shall be amended by the vote of at least two-thirds of the active members of the association present at the Annual General Meeting.
16.2 The Secretary shall dispatch notice of every proposed amendment to members not less than 12 weeks before the date of the Annual General Meeting.
16.3 No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which shall cause the association to deviate from its aims and objectives.
Article 17: Adoption
This Constitution shall become effective from this day, 8th December 2018 at a meeting of members held at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
