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
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, has praised engineers and technical teams working to restore electricity after a fire at the Akosombo Substation disrupted power supply.
He said this after visiting the facility on Monday night to assess ongoing repair works following the incident, which affected the control room and caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts of power to the national grid.
During the visit, he interacted with engineers and technicians who have been working continuously under difficult conditions to restore operations.
He said he was impressed by their dedication, courage, and professionalism despite the challenges.
The minister commended the teams for their resilience and sacrifice, noting that their efforts reflect a strong sense of duty and commitment to national service.
He assured them of the government’s full support as they continue with the restoration work.
He also assured the public that authorities are doing everything possible to restore stable electricity supply as soon as possible.
By: Jacob Aggrey
