Ghana’s Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has called on stakeholders in the country’s health sector to rally behind government initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery.
Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Health, the Minister emphasized that transforming Ghana’s health system requires collective effort from both government and sector players.
His call came in the aftermath of recent controversy surrounding an alleged assault incident at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, which has generated public debate about the state of health services in the country.
According to Hon. Akandoh, the Ministry of Health has a clear mandate to deliver improvements, and this cannot be achieved without broad-based support.
“I think that as a ministry we have a clear mandate to deliver, to improve upon the health sector. And it’s expected, especially the players in the sector, for everybody to come on board for us to improve upon the sector”.
Ghana’s Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
The Minister outlined several ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery. He highlighted the rollout of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly referred to as “Mahama Cares,” noting that the fund is already in motion with the establishment of its secretariat.
He also underscored the government’s commitment to implementing the Free Primary Healthcare policy, which he said is being “aggressively pursued” to ensure accessible services for all Ghanaians.
A key priority for the Ministry, he added, is the prompt payment of claims under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), an issue that has long plagued healthcare providers.
“We have to ensure that claims at National Health Insurance are paid promptly and all of you are tested the fact that we are doing so,” Hon. Akandoh stated, assuring stakeholders that the government remains focused on addressing this concern.
Retooling and Upgrading Health Facilities
The Minister also spoke about the need to retool and upgrade health facilities across the country to meet modern standards. He revealed that new equipment for cervical cancer screening, donated by telecommunications company Telecel, would be received within the week to enhance diagnostic capabilities.
“These are the issues,” he said, stressing the importance of resource provision in driving improvements in healthcare delivery. Hon. Akandoh further pointed to reforms in medical and health-related education as part of the government’s long-term vision.
He explained that the Ministry had expanded the quota for admissions into health training institutions, ensuring a more inclusive process by enabling prospective students to apply from their homes. This, he said, reflects the government’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance access.
Addressing disease outbreaks, the Minister outlined preparedness measures, noting that Ghana currently has Multi-Partner Outbreak Control (MPOCs) strategies in place.
He said that rapid response teams have been established at the national, regional, and district levels to strengthen the country’s epidemic response capacity. Additionally, he disclosed that Ghana would soon take delivery of vaccines as part of efforts to integrate vaccination into the country’s broader outbreak response mechanisms.
Addressing Unemployed Health Professionals
On the matter of unemployed health professionals, Hon. Akandoh acknowledged the growing concern about graduates who have completed their training but remain without jobs.
He assured that the government is working to employ some of them while exploring opportunities to export health professionals to other countries where their services are needed.
He added that government initiatives would include programs designed to make Ghanaian health professionals more attractive on the global market. This, he said, would be achieved through specialist training programs such as the Post-Basic Specialist Program.
To this end, a committee has been constituted, including the Rector of the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives and the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), to develop pathways for specialization and enhanced professional opportunities.
“We’ve constituted a committee including the Rector of Ghana Nurses and Midwives College and the Registrar for NMC for all of us to come together, to let us come together and find solutions to the problems that exist. That is our preoccupation.”
Ghana’s Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
The Minister emphasized that the ultimate goal is to find practical solutions to challenges facing the health sector. His call for unity and collaboration underscores the Ministry’s recognition that government alone cannot address the complexities of healthcare reform.
Instead, he insisted that all actors—from policymakers to health professionals and private sector partners—must work together to build a resilient and efficient health system for Ghanaians.
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