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.
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News1 week agoFinance Minister outlines new gold policies to boost reserves and curb smuggling
- News1 week ago
Sam George launches the 2026 Meteorological Awareness Month; presents the 2026 seasonal forecast for southern Ghana
- Hot!1 week ago
Breaking: Footballer who killed two children in Abesim handed lifetime sentence
