News
Italian delegation pays courtesy call on health minister to advance retooling project for 37 hospitals
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has received a delegation from the Government of Italy to deliberate on the ongoing collaboration between Ghana and Italy aimed at retooling 37 selected public health facilities across the country.
The meeting focused on advancing discussions surrounding a concessional loan agreement from the Italian Government to fund the retooling project, which was initiated in 2021.
The project seeks to transform clinical service delivery by equipping the targeted hospitals with modern medical equipment, replacing obsolete tools, and ultimately reducing the all-cause institutional mortality rate.
Speaking during the meeting, Akandoh highlighted key government priorities in the health sector.
These include the construction of six additional regional hospitals in the newly created regions, the upgrading of existing regional hospitals, and the establishment of a 500-bed Children’s and Fertility Centre of Excellence, among other initiatives.
Mr. Akandoh expressed appreciation for Italy’s commitment to Ghana’s health sector, describing the initiative as both timely and critical to enhancing health service delivery across the country. He assured that personnel would be trained to operate and maintain the equipment once procured.
The Italian delegation led by Stefano Gatti, Director General for development cooperation revealed that the Project’s Concept Notes, Pre-feasibility, and Feasibility Studies have all been completed and approved by the Ministry of Finance.
He reaffirmed his government’s readiness to support the initiative through a concessional loan and expressed optimism that the partnership would bring lasting benefits to Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure.
The Ministry remains confident that with continued bilateral cooperation, the project will advance to its implementation phase, ensuring that beneficiary health facilities receive the full complement of equipment required to meet the clinical needs of their patients.
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has revealed that in the whole of 2024, only GHS 362 million was released to MMDAs in Common Fund.
Contrary to this, In 2025 alone GHS 5 billion was released to the MMDAs with the following breakdown as follows.
The Minister made this revelation when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series held today.
In breakdown, the minister nonted that 1st Quarter – 790,372,058.40 was released for 2025.
He added that for the 2nd Quarter, 1,464,983,309.60 was released.
3rd Quarter saw the release of 1,188,921,640.80 and
1,592,706,391.20 for 4th Quarter.
The Minister added tha each of the MMDAs were required to undertake the following; at least 2-CHPS compounds, 3 Classroom blocks, 10 Boreholes, and Completion of legacy projects.
Additionally, 25% of the Common Fund was allocated for the Construction of 24-Hour Economy Model Markets.
Ahmed Ibrahim noted that as a result of the timely and unprecedented release of Funds, a total of 494 CHPS compounds, 761 Classroom Blocks, 4,029 Boreholes, and 2,755 Legacy projects are currently at various stages of completion.
Also, he added that 261 24-Hour Economy Model Markets have all been awarded on contracts and construction has begun on many of them.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on April 17, 2026, decorated nineteen (19) senior officers who have been promoted to their next ranks based on the recommendations of the Police Council and approval of the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The ceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, forms part of efforts to recognise merit, dedication, and long-standing service within the Ghana Police Service, while strengthening leadership across key operational and administrative levels.
The officers promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) to Commissioner of Police (COP) are Dr. Luke Asue-In-Yeng Zakpaa, Mr. Frederick Agyei, Mr. Duuti Tuaruka, Mr. Arthur Osei-Akoto, Mr. Darko Offei Lomotey, Mr. Eric Ken Winful, Mr. Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, and Mr. Desmond Owusu Boampong.
The IGP and members of POMAB congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
