News
Health Minister charges senior managers to reset healthcare delivery for universal health coverage
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has called on senior managers of the Ghana Health Service to renew their commitment to accountability, equitable financing, and quality service delivery as the nation works toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He made the call at the 2025 Senior Managers’ Meeting of the Ghana Health Service in Accra, held under the theme “Resetting Healthcare Delivery for Effective Governance, Equitable and Sustainable Financing to Achieve Universal Health Coverage.”
Reviewing the 2024 health sector performance, the Minister commended district hospitals for submitting quarterly IGF budget and expenditure reports for the first time, securing HEFRA accreditation, and establishing Regional Maternal Mortality Task Forces.
He however stressed that maternal mortality remains a national emergency, insisting that “every maternal death must be treated as preventable until proven otherwise.”
On the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the Minister announced bold interventions including community screening for cardiovascular diseases, expansion of oncology and dialysis services, enhanced NHIS coverage for chronic care, pollution control measures, and full implementation of the Mental Health Act.
The target, he said, is to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030.
The Minister also underscored the need to improve client care, lamenting the rise in medicolegal cases.
He urged health workers to demonstrate empathy, professionalism, and respect, while ensuring adherence to protocols and continuous training.
To strengthen accountability, he directed all district and regional hospitals to establish two dedicated IGF accounts for infrastructure and equipment maintenance, warning that circumvention would not be tolerated.
Akandoh reasserted government’s determination to embed integrity in health service delivery and to partner with CHAG, the private sector, and development partners in building an equitable and resilient system.
“Behind every policy lies a human face. We owe our people excellence, not excuses; results, not reports,” he said.
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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