Ministry of Health, Ghana

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐒 𝐆𝐇𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄

The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has tasked the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to take decisive steps to implement the Government’s Free Primary Health Care Programme and ensure that all Ghanaians can access essential healthcare services without financial barriers.

Addressing the 2026 First Senior Managers’ Meeting of the GHS, the Minister stressed that the success of the programme will depend on effective implementation, strong supervision, quality service delivery, and improved patient experiences at health facilities across the country.

He directed regional and district Health Managers to assess their readiness, address service delivery gaps, strengthen referral systems, eliminate informal charges, and use data to drive decision-making and accountability.

The Minister also called for intensified efforts to improve patient safety and reduce pressure on hospitals through a stronger and more responsive primary healthcare system, emphasizing that “Free Primary Health Care must be approached as an implementation programme, not as a slogan.”

Hon. Akandoh expressed confidence in the Ghana Health Service’s ability to lead the implementation of the programme and deliver on Government’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage.

He urged health managers to leave the meeting with a shared resolve to implement the programme with “discipline, urgency, and accountability.”

𝐌𝐨𝐇 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞

The Ministry of Health has received a donation of advanced bedside pulse oximeters worth over $ 100,000 from WAMPHARMA to support the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative, aimed at improving child healthcare delivery across the country.

The donation was presented by the company’s Director of Partnerships and Sales for West Africa, David Sam, who explained that the support followed discussions with Masimo on contributing to the Government’s flagship healthcare programme.

Receiving the items on behalf of Government, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh expressed appreciation to the company for the gesture, describing it as a demonstration of confidence in the Free Primary Healthcare policy.

The Minister noted that the initiative is a game-changer in Ghana’s healthcare delivery system and called on corporate institutions, development partners, and individuals to support the government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare services and improve patient care nationwide.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲! 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐞 𝐍𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧” — 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed the strengthening of Ghana’s Ebola preparedness measures following a comprehensive inspection of key national response points, including the Accra International Airport (AIA) Port Health Unit, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, and the Ga East Infectious Disease Centre.

The tour began at the Accra International Airport, where the Minister assessed screening protocols for arriving passengers. While expressing satisfaction with the measures currently in place, he directed immediate improvements, including the deployment of advanced temperature scanners and enhanced passenger flow systems to strengthen surveillance at the country’s entry points.

As part of efforts to boost frontline preparedness, the Minister presented Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to health personnel and emphasised that all travellers, regardless of their status, must comply fully with screening procedures.

At the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the Director of the Institute, Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, assured the Minister that the facility is fully equipped with the required expertise, reagents, and laboratory equipment to respond effectively to any suspected case. She also highlighted the establishment of a dedicated sample receipt centre to ensure the safe and efficient handling of samples.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Fiona Braka, also commended Ghana’s preparedness systems, from screening at entry points to laboratory diagnosis. She emphasized the importance of rapid testing, stating that suspected cases should be confirmed within 24 hours, while urging the public to remain vigilant due to the seriousness of the disease.

The Minister’s final stop was at the Ga East Infectious Disease Centre, where he noted that the facility remains fully prepared to respond to any potential outbreak, drawing on its experience in managing previous public health emergencies.

Although Ghana has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case, Hon. Akandoh urged the public not to take the situation lightly. He called for strict adherence to preventive measures, including regular hand hygiene, avoiding handshakes, and the early reporting of symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding.

“There is no cause for panic, but we must all play our part,” the Minister stated, underscoring that collective responsibility remains Ghana’s strongest defence against any potential outbreak.

𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐒’ 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒

Wishing all Muslims in Ghana, especially my beloved people of Essikado-Ketan Constituency, a blessed Eid-Ul-Adha. May our prayers and sacrifices be accepted and our communities be filled with peace and unity.

-Ul-Adha

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh wishes all Muslims and the general public a blessed Eid Al-Adha.