News Guide Africa

Tag: Ghana Health Service (GHS)

  • Driving Healthcare Commitments: Ministry of Health Concludes Three-Day Progress Review Retreat in Ho

    Driving Healthcare Commitments: Ministry of Health Concludes Three-Day Progress Review Retreat in Ho

    The Ministry of Health has convened a three-day intensive management retreat in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, to review and assess its progress on fulfilling government manifesto promises and policy commitments across the healthcare sector.

    The high-level meeting brought together key sector stakeholders, including political leadership, directors, heads of agencies under the ministry, and regional health administration officials. The retreat served as a strategic platform to evaluate ongoing health sector programs, track performance indicators, and map out actionable strategies to fast-track pending policy targets.

    Opening the session, the Minister for Health emphasized the importance of accountability, continuous monitoring, and structured evaluation in delivering on the administration’s promises to the public.

    “This retreat is not merely a routine gathering, but a critical accountability mechanism to candidly assess where we stand with our manifesto promises,” the Minister stated. “Our primary objective is to evaluate our implementation milestones, identify systemic bottlenecks, and recalibrate our strategies to ensure that every commitment made to the Ghanaian people regarding healthcare delivery is fully realized.”

    Throughout the three-day deliberations, participants reviewed key priority areas, including infrastructure development, primary healthcare expansion, health financing, digitizing medical records, and addressing critical human resource shortages in underserved communities.

    Speaking during one of the technical review sessions, the Chief Director at the Ministry highlighted the significance of institutional alignment and cross-agency collaboration in executing key policy interventions.

    “To achieve maximum impact, all agencies and departments within the health ecosystem must align their work plans directly with the ministry’s broader policy objectives,” the Chief Director noted. “By reviewing our performance in Ho, we are establishing clearer timelines, sharpening our operational strategies, and holding leadership accountable for delivery.”

    Representatives from various health agencies, including the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), presented progress updates on ongoing initiatives such as universal health coverage targets and community-level access to care.

    Participants at the retreat expressed optimism that the strategic decisions and updated action plans formulated during the event would significantly enhance healthcare delivery nationwide and ensure the timely completion of key government health projects.

     

  • Korle-Bu interdicts 4 staff over alleged refusal of care to hit-and-run victim

    Korle-Bu interdicts 4 staff over alleged refusal of care to hit-and-run victim

    The Management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has interdicted two medical doctors and two nurses following allegations of professional negligence and the refusal to provide emergency care to a hit-and-run victim.

    The victim, identified as Charles Amissah, tragically passed away after he was reportedly denied urgent medical attention at the facility’s Accident and Emergency Centre.

    The Incident

    According to preliminary reports, Mr. Amissah was involved in a hit-and-run accident near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in the early hours of February 7, 2026. He was rushed to Korle Bu by an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team from the National Ambulance Service.

    Upon arrival, however, the medical team on duty allegedly refused to admit the patient. Witnesses and ambulance personnel reported that efforts to facilitate emergency care were met with resistance from hospital staff. Despite warnings from the EMS team that moving the patient in his unstable condition could be fatal, the staff reportedly insisted he be taken elsewhere.

    Tragedy struck shortly after, as Mr. Amissah went into cardiac arrest within the hospital premises. Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was eventually administered, he could not be revived and was pronounced dead.

    Hospital Management Response

    In a statement issued on Monday, February 23, 2026, the hospital’s management confirmed that the four staff members have been stepped aside to allow for a full investigation.

    “The Management of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital wishes to announce that two medical doctors and two nurses have been interdicted following their alleged failure to provide emergency medical care to a hit-and-run victim,” the statement read.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Yakubu Seidu Adam, emphasized that the hospital has a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding the denial of emergency care. He further clarified that emergency services at Korle Bu do not require upfront payment, stressing that the lives of patients must always come first.

    Investigation Committee

    A formal committee has been constituted to conduct a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Amissah’s death. The committee is tasked with determining whether the staff followed the established clinical protocols and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) directives on emergency response.

    The hospital has appealed to the public and the family of the deceased for patience, promising that the process will be fair, transparent, and that any person found culpable will face the full rigors of the hospital’s disciplinary code.

    Growing Public Concern

    The incident has reignited the national conversation regarding the “no-bed syndrome” and the perceived apathy of some healthcare workers in Ghana. Public health advocates have called for stricter enforcement of the Patient’s Charter to ensure that no Ghanaian is turned away during a life-threatening emergency.

    Management of the hospital has assured the public that they remain committed to providing quality healthcare and will provide further updates once the investigative committee completes its work.

     

     

  • National Health Budget increased by over 13%

    National Health Budget increased by over 13%

    President John Dramani Mahama has announced a significant boost to Ghana’s healthcare funding for 2025, highlighting the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s health system amid rising domestic and global health challenges.

    The President revealed that the national health budget has increased by 13.4%, rising from GHC15.6 billion to GHC17.8 billion.

    “In 2025 alone the National Health Budget increased by 13.4% rising from GHS15.6 billion to GHS17.8billion, one of the most significant increases in recent years,”he said while speaking at a recent media encounter in Accra.

    “This bold step reflects our recognition to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system in the face of both domestic demands and global health risks.”

    Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has expressed concern over the growing erosion of public confidence in its operations and has urged health directors and workers to demonstrate professionalism and diligence to restore trust and improve healthcare delivery.

    Healthcare trust solutions

    The service noted that public complaints about poor service delivery, lack of compassion from some health professionals, and unsatisfactory patient care have escalated in recent years, resulting in several lawsuits against the GHS.

    To address these issues, the GHS announced strict measures to hold underperforming directors accountable, stressing that absenteeism and poor work practices will no longer be tolerated. In addition, an award scheme will soon be rolled out to recognise and reward the most compassionate health practitioners. The initiative aims to motivate health workers to deliver quality care while rebuilding the integrity and reputation of the service.

    Delivering a speech on behalf of the Director-General of the GHS at the 32nd Annual General Conference of the District Directors of Health Service Group in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Dr. Kennedy Brightson acknowledged the contributions of district directors to improving healthcare but urged them to redouble their efforts to rebuild public trust.Buy vitamins and supplementsHealthcare trust solutions

    “We must also confront a difficult reality: public trust in our health services is deteriorating. Too many Ghanaians complain about our poor attitude, lack of leadership, weak supervision and delayed care. This dissatisfaction has led to lawsuits against the service, draining huge sums of money that should have gone into improving care

    “As district directors, you are accountable for the quality of supervision and oversight in your districts. Leadership failure at the local level can’t continue any longer. We will be holding non-performing directors accountable, and absentee leadership and managers who fail to demonstrate capacity will no longer be tolerated,” he said.

    On his part, Dr. Justice Thomas Sevugu, National Chairman of the District Directors of Health Service Group, highlighted the numerous challenges faced in healthcare delivery at the district level. He appealed to government and relevant authorities to provide adequate operational funding, improved conditions of service, and logistics to strengthen healthcare delivery.

    “As the base of the pyramid of health which is the district the operational level things have to be set right. So we are appealing that once we are able to get operational funding, we get the logistics, enhanced equipment, then we will also be able to sit down, prepare effective emergency preparedness plans, simulate them and ensure that the system is ready and able to confront health emergencies that will come.Healthcare trust solutionsBuy vitamins and supplementsBuy vitamins and supplements

    “The government should ensure that they meet us halfway in terms of operational funding, and we are also calling for the welfare of the district director,” he added.

    This year’s conference was held under the theme: “Enhancing Health Security in Ghana: Innovations, Preparedness, and Workforce Well-being for a Sustainable Future.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • GHS encourage parents to access vaccines for their children

    GHS encourage parents to access vaccines for their children

    Abida Bawa

     

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is encouraging all parents and the general public that all children who missed out on their scheduled vaccination are still eligible per the national vaccination policy.

     

    This follows the arrival of some childhood vaccines which had been in shortage into the country.

     

    A statement issued by the GHS and signed by its Director-General, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, announcing the delivery of some childhood vaccines that have been in short supply in the country for some time now, said: “Regional cold vans have been deployed with consignments to their various regional cold rooms for onward delivery to the districts and facilities from Monday, 13 March 2023.”

     

    Abida Bawa

     

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is encouraging all parents and the general public that all children who missed out on their scheduled vaccination are still eligible per the national vaccination policy.

     

    This follows the arrival of some childhood vaccines which had been in shortage into the country.

     

    A statement issued by the GHS and signed by its Director-General, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, announcing the delivery of some childhood vaccines that have been in short supply in the country for some time now, said: “Regional cold vans have been deployed with consignments to their various regional cold rooms for onward delivery to the districts and facilities from Monday, 13 March 2023.”

     

    The GHS also advised the public against buying these childhood vaccines as they are not for sale.

     

    “We want to take this opportunity to advise the public against buying these vaccines. The vaccines are free and can be obtained at designated health facilities and Child Welfare Clinics (Weighing centres) across the country,” the GHS said.

     

    It entreated all “caregivers not to rush for the vaccines since the Ministry of Health has made adequate provisions for vaccines for the rest of the year and beyond.”

     

    “We want to take this opportunity to advise the public against buying these vaccines. The vaccines are free and can be obtained at designated health facilities and Child Welfare Clinics (Weighing centres) across the country,” the GHS said.

     

    It entreated all “caregivers not to rush for the vaccines since the Ministry of Health has made adequate provisions for vaccines for the rest of the year and beyond.”

  • GHS confirms new mosquito species in Ghana

    GHS confirms new mosquito species in Ghana

    Fouziya Abdul Latiff

     

    A new mosquito vector called Anopheles stephensi known in India has been confirmed in Ghana by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

     

    Anopheles stephensi is a primary mosquito vector of malaria in urban India and is included in the same subgenus as Anopheles gambiae, the primary malaria vector in Africa.

     

    Anopheles stephensi is a mosquito species that is capable of transmitting both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria parasites. Unlike the other main mosquito vectors of malaria, it thrives in urban settings. Originally native to parts of South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, An. stephensi has been detected over the last decade in 5 countries in the African continent.

     

    The new vector was confirmed in March 2023 from samples taken in Tuba and Dansoman in the Greater Accra region as part of the

     

    During a routine malaria surveillance system and vector control monitoring done across the country through designated sentinel sites, with samples taken in some urban areas in the Greater Accra region,  such as; Tuba and Dansoman, discovered traces of the new vector was confirmed in March this year.

     

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Anopheles stephensi is a mosquito species that is capable of transmitting both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria parasites. Unlike the other main mosquito vectors of malaria, it thrives in urban settings. Originally native to parts of South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, An. stephensi has been detected over the last decade in 5 countries in the African continent.

     

     

    In a press statement to announce the confirmation of the presence of the vector in Ghana, GHS educated that, the Anopheles stephensi is a unique vector known to breed in a myriad of sources such as ponds, swamps, marshes, artificial containers and other man-made container spots. It can practically breed in almost all water sources, some of which are not the traditional breeding sites of the common Anopheles species, particularly in urban areas.

     

    “The vector can also survive in extremely high temperatures during the dry season when malaria transmission usually declines. It is known to spread fast and adapt to different climatic conditions posing challenges to its control”, the statement noted one of the strength of the new vector.

     

    GHS thereby called on the public to ensure “the removal of water collection point in and around their homes and communities to minimize the breeding sites for this new mosquito species and also cover all water containers to avoid mosquito breeding.”

     

    It further advised households to use insecticide-treated nets to protect themselves against indoor mosquito bites, the use of repellents and protective clothing that protects against mosquito bites and to screen doors and windows of rooms.

     

    The WHO has expressed worry about where the vector is predominant, in the urban areas where population is saturated.

     

    “The invasion of An. stephensi in sub-Saharan Africa – where the burden of malaria is highest and over 40% of the population lives in urban environments – is particularly worrying.”

     

    In a 2019 vector alert, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified the spread of An. stephensi as a significant threat to malaria control and elimination – particularly in Africa.

     

    This new WHO initiative, launched in September 2022, aims to stop the further spread of An. stephensi in the region and to determine whether it can be eliminated from areas that have already been invaded.