News
Minister of Health meets Management from World Bank
Management from the World Bank met today with the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to discuss the Ministry’s strategic health priorities and the government’s vision for the country’s healthcare system.
It was also to gather valuable stakeholder input on the World Bank’s Regional Health Program for Western and Central Africa and explore potential avenues for collaboration.
The meeting provided a platform for the Minister to outline key focus areas, including improving healthcare accessibility, enhancing the quality of services, and addressing critical health challenges faced by the nation.
Mr.Akandoh emphasized the importance of strengthening healthcare infrastructure, expanding access to essential services, removing financial barriers to healthcare, and ensuring the sustainability of health programmes to achieve long-term health outcomes for all citizens.
He highlighted that the government has set an ambitious goal to locally produce 60% of drugs and vaccines by 2040, enhance medical tourism, build more CHPS compounds, and introduce the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to support the treatment of chronic diseases not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Rafiat Hasan, the Practice Manager from the World Bank, expressed the Bank’s commitment to supporting the Ministry’s efforts and discussed various mechanisms through which the global financial institution could provide assistance, including technical support, financing, and expertise.
She also proposed a multisectoral approach to adolescent health, one of the key priorities of the World Bank. This approach, she noted, requires coordinated efforts across various sectors, such as education, healthcare, nutrition, and social protection, to address the diverse and interconnected factors that influence adolescent well-being.
Mr.Akandoh welcomed the opportunity for continued collaboration, recognizing the vital role that international partnerships play in achieving the Ministry’s goals.
He highlighted the importance of fostering strong relationships with global organizations to attract much-needed resources and innovative solutions to meet the evolving health needs of the population.
Both parties agreed to explore specific projects that align with the Ministry’s health agenda, further solidifying the ongoing partnership between the Ministry of Health and the World Bank.
The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Abena Osei Asare has expressed concerns about the failure of the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Mr. Paul Adjei to honour invitation of the Committee to assist in dealing with abandoned projects cited in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report.
She emphasised that some of the projects have been abandoned for more than 20 years and it kept reoccurring in the Auditor-General’s report yearly, stressing that the GETFund Administrator could assist by prioritising these projects.
However, he has failed to personally appear before the Committee since the commencement of the Committee’s public hearing in the 9th Parliament.
According to the 2024 Auditor-General’s report on Pre-University Educational Institutions, nine (9) Institutions with 16 projects awarded by the GET Fund Secretariat had been abandoned/delayed for a period ranging between three (3) and 28 years.
Some of the affected schools include Adanwomoase Senior High School (Boys and Girls dormitory abandoned for 12 years), Atoa Senior High School (Home Economics Block abandoned for 27 years), Beposo Senior High School (Dinning Hall and Kitchen Complex abandoned for 10 years and lastly KNUST Senior High School (Three storey classroom block abandoned for 20 years).
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy continued its oversight responsibilities with a working visit to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) yesterday.
Chairman of the Committee, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, said the visit formed part of efforts to familiarize members with the Authority’s operations and to explore ways Parliament could provide the necessary support.
He explained that the NPA’s work is focused on regulating Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector, a critical area for national energy security.
Mr. Bedzrah noted that the Committee is particularly interested in assessing whether the country has adequate petroleum stock to meet demand.
He noted that rising geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing US–Iran conflict, could have adverse effect on Ghana’s energy supply and pricing.
He further disclosed that the Committee intends to engage closely with the Authority on a proposed new petroleum bill.
According to him, a draft of the legislation will be reviewed and possibly presented to Parliament under a certificate of urgency.
News1 week ago“We are working to transform the Kwahu Business Village into an international conference hub”
- News1 week ago
Kwahu Business Forum:My engagement with President Mahama has boosted my business — Lydia Forson
- News1 week ago
DeniiNoi Foundation Supports Taifa Polyclinic with Medical Equipment
