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CHORUS calls for revamp of CHPS in urban areas to boost health access
The government has been urged to place greater emphasis on Community -based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) facilities in underserved urban areas, as a means to improve health outcomes for the urban poor.
According to the Community-Led Responsive and Effective Urban Health Systems (CHORUS), strengthening CHPS in cities holds immerse potential to address health inequalities in fast-growing urban communities.
Speaking at a media capacity-building workshop and stakeholders’ forum in Accra, Professor Irene Agyepong, Chief Executive Officer of CHORUS, said that while CHPS compounds have been widely successful in rural areas, their potential remains underused in urban settings due to several structural and awareness barriers.
“Pharmacies and drug stores are currently the most common first point of care in urban communities, while CHPS compounds remain the least utilized,” Prof. Agyepong disclosed, citing findings from CHORUS Phase I and II research.
She explained that high population density and infrastructural limitations in urban areas have made it difficult to establish and maintain CHPS compounds, despite their effectiveness in improving healthcare delivery in rural Ghana where formal health facilities are sparse.
The Chief Executive Officer said CHORUS research, conducted in four urban municipalities—La-Nkwantanang Madina, Ashaiman, Ayawaso East, and Ayawaso North—revealed several concerning trends.
Among them she said was CHPS compounds are rarely used, with most urban residents seeking care from private pharmacies or maternity homes, public awareness of CHPS generally limited to child welfare services, with little understanding of its broader preventive and promotive health functions, particularly for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Others were only 19.8per cent of households reported receiving a home visit from a Community Health Officer (CHO) or Community Health Nurse (CHN) within the past six months, many CHOs and CHNs lack essential logistics and training in emerging urban health concerns such as NCDs, mental health, and family planning.
Despite these challenges, Prof. Agyepong expressed confidence that the CHPS model can be adapted successfully to urban environments with the right interventions.
“With targeted investment, logistics support, community engagement, and sustained public education, we can replicate the rural CHPS success story in urban Ghana,” she stated.
She also emphasized the importance of the media in shaping health behaviours and bridging the communication gap between communities, policymakers, and researchers.
“The media plays a key role in translating research findings into relatable messages that empower citizens. You are vital partners in promoting urban health,” Prof. Agyepong added.
She commended journalists for their ongoing support of the CHORUS project and called for continued collaboration to push urban health higher on the national agenda.
CHORUS is a six-year international research consortium funded by UK Aid and implemented in Ghana, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Nepal. In Ghana, the project is led by the University of Ghana School of Public Health and aims to strengthen the links between communities, local governments, and health systems to improve health outcomes in urban poor communities
By Benedicta Gyimaah Folley
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
