In a proactive step aimed at strengthening stakeholder collaboration in Ghana’s health sector, the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has held an emergency meeting with the Conference of Heads of Health Training Institutions (COHHETI).
The meeting, which brought together heads of various health training institutions across the country, was convened to deepen the Ministry’s engagement with institutions at the frontline of training Ghana’s health professionals.
Held in a frank and solutions-oriented atmosphere, the meeting focused on identifying and addressing the pressing challenges confronting Health Training Institutions (HTIS), improving the quality of healthcare education, and outlining a strategic direction for human resource development in the health sector.
Hon. Akandoh, who addressed the gathering, underscored the urgency and importance of building strong and mutually respectful relationships between the Ministry of Health and health training institutions.
According to him, the effectiveness of the national healthcare system depends largely on the quality of personnel being trained — and this quality can only be assured through a well-coordinated, well-resourced, and responsive educational infrastructure.
“The purpose of this engagement is not merely to meet, but to collaborate, to dialogue, and to find lasting solutions to the systemic and operational challenges confronting your institution.
“Ultimately, our goal is to improve the well-being of Ghanaians, and this cannot be achieved without strengthening the foundation of our healthcare workforce, which is the training you provide.”
Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
The Minister emphasized that the Ministry’s new approach would prioritise active consultation and continuous dialogue with training institutions.
He revealed that specific reforms were on the horizon to bring clarity, efficiency, and fairness to how health training institutions are managed and supported.
COHHETI’s Appreciation
President of COHHETI, Madam Margaret Mary Alacoque, expressed appreciation to the Minister for what she described as a “timely and necessary” initiative.
She noted that it was the first time in a long while that a Minister for Health had demonstrated such urgency and openness in engaging directly with HTI leadership.
Madam Alacoque did not mince words in laying out the challenges facing HTIS, demanding for urgent interventions
Among the most pressing issues were difficulties in transporting students for practical training, bureaucratic delays in securing accreditation for new programs and institutions, and persistent staffing shortages that threaten the quality of education.
She also highlighted the worsening state of service conditions for health tutors and support staff.
She, however, acknowledged the resilience and innovation demonstrated by some institutions in the face of adversity.
She cited examples of internally generated programs and partnerships aimed at enhancing learning outcomes, digitalizing course delivery, and promoting community-based learning.
Readiness to Take Actions
In his response, Hon. Akandoh reiterated the Ministry’s readiness to take concrete steps to address the concerns raised.
He announced that a monitoring and evaluation team would be tasked with ensuring effective follow-ups on commitments made during the meeting.
More significantly, the Minister hinted at imminent policy reforms that are expected to transform health training education in Ghana.
These include reducing the cost of admissions to health training institutions, introducing an automated code generation system to streamline the application process, and instituting clearer guidelines to delineate leadership responsibilities within HTIS — a move aimed at minimizing internal conflicts and enhancing institutional governance.
“The Ministry will soon roll out a policy framework that speaks directly to your realities — not abstract documents crafted in isolation. Our intention is to align your work with national health priorities, eliminate inefficiencies, and create an enabling environment for excellence in health education.”
Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
The session ended on a positive note, with both parties expressing a renewed sense of purpose and collaboration.
COHHETI members pledged to remain committed to improving the quality of healthcare training while calling for more consistent engagement and inclusion in policymaking processes.
The Minister’s meeting with COHHETI signals a potentially new chapter in Ghana’s healthcare education system — one anchored in inclusiveness, practical reform, and responsive leadership.
If the commitments made during the session are followed through, the outcome could be a stronger, better-coordinated health workforce better equipped to meet the growing demands of public health in Ghana.
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