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Media urged to champion free, universal healthcare agenda
![• Prof Samuel Kaba Akoriyea [fifth from left,] with Mr Martin Adu Owusu [fifth from right] and the GHS delegation team and NTC Managment after the meeting Photo: Lizzy Okai](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Prof-Samuel-Kaba-Akoriyea-fifth-from-left-with-Mr-Martin-Adu-Owusu-fifth-from-right-and-the-GHS-delegation-team-and-NTC-Managment-after-the-meeting-Photo-Lizzy-Okai-scaled.jpg)
The Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has urged the media to champion free, universally accessible healthcare agenda across Ghana, regardless of one’s connections or location.
According to Prof. Akoriyea, every Ghanaian deserve equal access to quality healthcare irrespective of their social status or connections, saying that, “no one should go to the hospital and need to know somebody before he gets treated,” calling such practices a relic must be consigned to the past.
He said this on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy call on the management of New Times Corporation (NTC) in Accra.
The visit was to familiarise with operations of the media house and forge partnership to achieve his vision for the service.
Prof. Akoriyea underscored the need for a collective support to achieve that goal saying “we cannot do it alone, we will need your help as a media house to highlight some of the vision that we have.”
He acknowledged the crucial role of the media in shaping positive health seeking behaviours, particularly among the youth, urging it to partner with the GHS to promote preventive health initiatives for a healthier population.
He also appealed for innovative media campaigns to curb the youth’s growing reliance on illicit drugs known as “red,” “blue tooth” and others by making health‐promotion messages catchy and relevant.
He also expressed concern over the rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension and others and its economic effects on patients and families as a whole.
He also indicated that since the launch of a fund for non-communicable diseases by the President to cover treatments such as dialysis, the GHS has moved to prevent patients from being trapped in a cycle of endless, costly procedures.
Moreover, Prof. Akoriyea reiterated that dialysis was merely a “stopgap measure” and indicated plans of exploring organ donation and transplantation as long-term solutions.
To coordinate efforts, he emphasised that the Service will appoint a media focal person to collaborate with its Public Relations and Health Promotion units, forging a sustainable, district-level communication strategy and called for collaboration to bring better health to Ghanaians
The Managing Director of NTC, Mr Martin Adu-Owusu, on his part recognised the importance of health promotion in reducing Ghana’s disease burden, assuring of the Corporation’s support to the GHS in that direction.
“For me, this is a call for teamwork, don’t forget we are all working for mother Ghana because at the end when we’re successful, we’ll share the glory. We are ready to collaborate with the GHS to ensure that health promotion becomes paramount in the everyday health system,” he assured.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
The Ghana National Gas Company has denied allegations of wrongdoing in its recent procurement and insurance contract renewals.
In a press statement issued in Accra on April 13, 2026, the company explained that concerns raised in some media reports were linked to a change in its lead insurer.
It noted that the change followed the expiration of previous insurance contracts at the end of the year.
The company stressed that the new insurance arrangements are lawful and form part of efforts to improve its risk management system to protect its assets.
It further indicated that all contracts awarded so far have gone through the required approval processes by the Public Procurement Authority after receiving financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance.
The statement, signed by the Head of Corporate Affairs, Richard Ernest Kirk-Mensah, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
It added that management remains focused on delivering gas efficiently to meet the country’s energy needs while continuing to strengthen internal systems to ensure good corporate governance and compliance.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has clarified that it now supports the implementation of the Publican Artificial Intelligence system at the country’s ports, following earlier concerns raised in 2025.
In a press statement issued on April 9, the Association explained that claims suggesting it still opposes the system are misleading and based on outdated information from a December 18, 2025 media publication.
It noted that its earlier concerns were legitimate, pointing to a lack of stakeholder consultation, as well as issues related to data security, transparency, and system integration.
At the time, it called for broader engagement to ensure the system would be credible and beneficial to all stakeholders.
According to the statement, the Government of Ghana, through the Finance Ministry and the Ghana Revenue Authority, has since engaged industry players, including the Association, to address those concerns.
The Association described the engagements as constructive, indicating that they helped resolve key issues and showed government’s commitment to improving the system’s implementation.
As a result, it affirmed its support for the Publican AI system, which has already been rolled out at the ports.
The Association acknowledged that the system is facing some operational challenges but noted that such difficulties are common with major technological reforms.
It added that authorities are taking steps to resolve the issues.
It highlighted the potential benefits of the system, including improved revenue mobilisation, increased transparency, reduced revenue leakages, and a decline in unethical practices at the ports.
The statement cautioned the public against attempts by some individuals and groups to misrepresent its position, stressing that such actions undermine national progress.
It further emphasised that it will not allow itself to be used for propaganda or agendas that do not serve the interests of importers, exporters, and the wider economy.
The Executive Secretary of the Association, Samson Asaki Awingobit, signed the statement, reaffirming the group’s commitment to supporting reforms that improve efficiency at the ports and promote a fair trading environment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
