News
Merck Foundation reaffirms commitment to girls’ education, scholarships, medical training programmes
The Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Dr Rasha Kelej, has reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to supporting girls’ education and strengthening healthcare systems across Africa and Asia through scholarships and medical training programmes.
Speaking at the 13th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, held virtually, Dr Kelej said educating girls remains one of the Foundation’s key priorities because it empowers them to achieve their dreams and contribute meaningfully to society.
The virtual meeting brought together First Ladies from about 13 African countries including policymakers, health experts and development partners to discuss solutions for strengthening healthcare systems and improving patient outcomes across Africa and Asia.
She disclosed that 50 per cent of all scholarships awarded by the Foundation were reserved for female healthcare professionals as part of efforts to promote women’s empowerment and gender equity in the health sector.
According to her, Merck Foundation has awarded more than 2,000 scholarships to healthcare providers in critical underserved specialties, including oncology, family medicine, paediatrics and child health, while also supporting efforts to improve mental healthcare and reduce stigma associated with mental illness.
Dr Kelej noted that many African countries continue to face challenges such as inadequate financial resources and shortages of trained healthcare professionals, making investment in medical education essential for improving healthcare delivery.
Meanwhile, the Director of Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), India, Prof. Dr Sudeep Gupta, praised the partnership between Merck Foundation and Tata Memorial Centre, describing it as a successful model for healthcare capacity building.
Prof. Gupta said the collaboration, which began in 2016, has supported 141 scholarships for healthcare professionals from 27 African countries.
He explained that the initiative aims to improve access to quality and equitable cancer care, particularly in underserved communities, while addressing the shortage of trained oncology specialists across the continent.
According to him, Tata Memorial Centre, one of India’s leading cancer institutions, currently operates 11 hospitals across seven states and treats thousands of cancer patients annually, many from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The scholarship programme has provided training in several oncology specialties, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, paediatric oncology, gynecologic oncology and palliative care. It has also supported training for nurses, laboratory technologists, radiation technologists and oncology researchers.
Prof. Gupta stressed that cancer care requires a multidisciplinary approach involving different healthcare professionals working together to deliver quality care.
He expressed gratitude to Merck Foundation, African and Asian First Ladies, and participating governments for supporting the initiative.
He reaffirmed Tata Memorial Centre’s commitment to expanding the partnership through education, research and institutional collaboration to ensure that every patient, regardless of financial status, has access to timely, affordable and high-quality cancer care.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
