News
Invest in Health Workers Training and Retention — Merck Foundation Board Chair
African governments have been urged to prioritise investments in training and retaining healthcare professionals to curb the continent’s worsening brain drain and improve access to quality healthcare.
Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Professor Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp said Africa cannot achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) without a strong and well-retained health workforce capable of responding to the region’s high disease burden.
“Africa carries 24 percent of the world’s disease burden yet has only 2.9 healthcare workers per 1,000 people. Building capacity is not enough; we must retain the talents we train,” he said.
Prof. Stangenberg-Haverkamp made the remarks at the opening of the 12th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary in Banjul, The Gambia, on Friday.
Chaired by the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, with the First Lady of The Gambia, Madame Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, as co-chair, the meeting brought together First Ladies from across Africa, government ministers, healthcare experts, policymakers, and media professionals to advance efforts to build a responsive health system in Africa.
Prof. Stangenberg-Haverkamp noted that while lack of financial resources remains a challenge to attaining UHC, the more critical barrier is the scarcity of skilled healthcare providers, which continues to undermine healthcare delivery across many countries.
“We believe that good healthcare can transform the lives of individuals and families across developing countries.
Its significance contributes to the economic and social development of any country because healthcare is a major driver of both, and our governments must rise to the task,” he stressed.
The Board Chair highlighted Merck Foundation’s contribution to strengthening Africa’s healthcare systems, including providing more than 2,400 scholarships since 2012 to doctors and healthcare workers from 52 countries.
The training covers 44 underserved medical specialties, including oncology, fertility and reproductive care, diabetology, cardiology, respiratory and critical care, neonatal care, and internal medicine.
Prof. Stangenberg-Haverkamp reinforced the Foundation’s commitment to breaking infertility stigma and promoting girls’ education through the “More Than a Mother” and “Educating Linda” initiatives, which support women’s empowerment and scholarships for underprivileged girls.
He assured that Merck Foundation will continue to work with First Ladies and partners to bridge healthcare gaps and build resilient health systems across the continent.
Dr. Kelej expressed the Foundation’s commitment to continue rolling out programmes to transform patient care and address critical social and health issues on the continent.
“Before our interventions, some countries like Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia had no specialists in key fields such as oncology, fertility, or ICU care.
Patients either had to travel abroad or had no access to treatment at all. It’s really amazing that these scholarships have actually transformed the patient care landscape in the public sectors in all these countries, and today, we are changing that story,” she said.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
News
President Mahama signs book of condolence in honour of late former first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings
President John Dramani Mahama and his wife, Lordina Mahama, have signed the book of condolence in honour of the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
The visit took place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the family’s residence in Accra.
It followed widespread media reports confirming that the former First Lady had passed away at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
In his condolence message, President Mahama paid glowing tribute to Nana Konadu, describing her as a dedicated leader and a tireless advocate for women’s empowerment.
“Ghana is proud of your achievements in your 19 solid years as First Lady and ‘Mother of the Nation.’ While we are all saddened by your passing, we celebrate your life,” the President wrote.
He noted that her passing was especially painful as it came at a time when preparations were underway to mark the fifth anniversary and final funeral rites of her late husband, former President Jerry John Rawlings.
“You fought a good fight and deserve a peaceful rest,” his message concluded.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, served as Ghana’s First Lady from 1981 to 2000.
She was the founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement and is remembered for her lifelong commitment to advancing women’s rights and national development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Paul Adom-Otchere, has explained that his recent legal action against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is not to stop the anti-graft body from accessing his asset declaration details.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr. Adom-Otchere said reports suggesting that he was trying to block the OSP from obtaining information on his assets were misleading.
According to him, he had already completed and submitted the asset declaration forms requested by the OSP on October 23, 2025.
He also attached a letter of protest on the same date to express his concerns about certain aspects of the process.
“As a matter of record, the OSP’s asset declaration forms have been completed and submitted,” the statement read.
Mr. Adom-Otchere stressed that he remains committed to cooperating with the OSP to bring finality to the matter.
He explained that the purpose of his court action is simply to “settle the law and procedure on the matter” not to obstruct the OSP’s work.
The OSP had earlier directed Mr. Adom-Otchere to declare his assets as part of an ongoing investigation, prompting him to seek clarification from the court on the legality of that directive.
By: Jacob Aggrey
