Akandoh Briefs Otumfuo on Health Sector Stewardship

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has briefed Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, on the government’s stewardship of the health sector over the past months.

This was during a courtesy call at the Manhyia Palace on Friday, July 24, 2026.

The Minister briefed His Majesty on the government’s three-pronged interventions aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage: the Free Primary Health Care initiative, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF).

He said financial constraints must not obstruct healthcare accessibility for any Ghanaian across the country.

Free Primary Health Care
He reported that 80% of healthcare needs fall under primary healthcare, necessitating that services be brought closer to the people through the government’s Free Primary Health Care initiative delivered from CHPS compounds to Polyclinics.

“The Free Primary Healthcare is such that one will not require the NHIS to access healthcare. This will deal with preventive diseases. Under this, we will have health professionals providing mobile services in households,” he said.

To enhance the initiative, he said the government had procured and commenced distribution of 24,000 health equipment and tools across facilities.

NHIS
With regard to the NHIS, Mr Akandoh said it will complement the Free Primary Healthcare initiative, adding that measures have been put in place to enhance the scheme.

He reported prompt payment of service providers and expansion of coverage to 66% nationwide.

The scheme, he said, caters for District, Regional, and Teaching Hospitals.

Mahama Cares
Explaining the GMTF initiative, also known as Mahama Cares, the Health Minister said it will cover non-communicable diseases, which account for 45% of deaths in the country.

Since its establishment, he said the Fund had accrued GH¢2.5 billion.

The Fund, aside from providing support for healthcare, is financing critical facilities and logistics.

He also reported the construction of three catheterisation laboratories at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

Equitable Health Workforce Distribution
He also briefed Otumfuo on efforts to ensure Universal Health Coverage through equitable health workforce distribution, particularly of medical doctors.

He said prior to this, there were eight underserved regions while Kumasi and Accra had a cumulative 70% of the country’s total medical doctors.

“In 2025, I decided to deal with the inequity which generated unrest. As I speak, 100 medical doctors have accepted postings to the underserved regions,” he said.

He noted that the move was not aimed at punishing medical doctors but at ensuring equitable healthcare.

Nurses’ Unemployment
He also addressed the issue of unemployment, which has left 100,000 nurses at home, announcing that 8,000 have already been recruited.

He said the government intends to recruit 16,000 of them and is awaiting clearance from the Finance Minister to recruit 8,000 more this year.

Meanwhile, Mr Akandoh added that plans are far advanced to send some of the unemployed nurses abroad.

“We are collaborating with some countries to send some of the nurses there to work. We currently have over 46 MoUs pending on our desks,” he said.

Agenda 111 Update
In an update on the previous government’s flagship Agenda to build 111 health facilities, including six new regional hospitals, he said GH¢4.8 billion was spent with none of the facilities ready for use as of the time the government exited in January 2025.

To address it, he said the current government was working to complete 35 of them, including Trede and Oforikrom hospitals.

In addition, he said the government had opened opportunities for private sector partnership to complete the remaining hospitals.

No Bed Syndrome
To deal with the ‘no bed syndrome’ confronting the country, the Health Minister said the government was planning to construct Stabilisation Centres in Accra and Kumasi to decongest emergency rooms and receive critical cases.

Sewua Hospital
On the Sewua Hospital, he assured Otumfuo that it would be operationalised soon, while reporting progress on the road network, energy, and water situation.

“When we come again with President Mahama, we will be commissioning it,” he said.

Don’t Disappoint
Otumfuo welcomed the interventions of the government, noting that health was central to every nation’s economy.

“Your mandate is core to Ghana’s development. Without good health, we cannot develop this country as we wish,” he said.

He further encouraged them to steer the health sector prudently and competently as expected of them.

“Live up to the confidence reposed in you by President Mahama. Don’t disappoint him. He cannot come down to do that work, and that is why he put you there. You will be credited for whatever results your work brings,” he added.

The delegation included the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene; the Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Obuobia Opoku Darko; the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Akoriyea Kaba; the Head of the Christian Health Association of Ghana, Peter Yeboah; the Ashanti Regional Director of Health, Dr Fred Adomako; and other officials.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

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