BY ISSAH OLEGOR
The Ministry of Health has commenced a three-day mid-year review of the government’s health-sector commitments under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 Manifesto, as the government takes stock of progress made so far and identifies areas requiring urgent attention.
The review began in Ho in the Volta Region on Saturday, August 15, 2026, bringing together board chairpersons, chief executives, directors and heads of agencies, institutions and programmes under the Ministry of Health. The exercise is being led by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
The meeting is intended to provide a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of key promises made by the government to improve access to quality, affordable and equitable healthcare.
Participants were expected to examine achievements, challenges and delays associated with the various commitments and agree on measures to accelerate delivery during the second half of the year.
Among the major programmes under review is the Free Primary Healthcare programme, which forms part of the government’s broader efforts to expand access to basic healthcare services, particularly at the primary level.
The Ministry is also assessing progress on the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCare, as well as plans to expand the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The retooling of health facilities and the introduction of specialised nursing programmes are also part of the agenda. Heads of the respective agencies and programmes are expected to present detailed updates on their areas of responsibility, including what has been achieved, challenges encountered and interventions required to address outstanding gaps.
The review is also focusing heavily on healthcare infrastructure. This includes progress on the construction of additional regional hospitals in the six newly created regions and the establishment of cataract centres in selected parts of the country.
Other commitments under scrutiny include the formalisation of allowances for nursing trainees, the recruitment and deployment of health professionals and efforts to complete abandoned health projects across the country.
The Ministry said the exercise is aimed at identifying implementation gaps early enough and developing practical measures to ensure that manifesto commitments translate into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery rather than remaining policy promises.
The gathering comes at a time when the government is seeking to strengthen coordination among the numerous agencies and programmes responsible for delivering healthcare services. The participation of board chairpersons, chief executives and directors is therefore expected to provide a broader institutional assessment of the sector’s performance.
Beyond the implementation of health policies and infrastructure projects, the retreat is also placing significant emphasis on financial management and accountability.
Participants are scheduled to undergo training in Public Financial Management, with the objective of strengthening financial discipline and ensuring that public resources allocated to the health sector are managed efficiently.
Opening the meeting, Akandoh highlighted some achievements recorded within the health sector and commended the various agencies whose activities had contributed to the progress made.
The Minister, however, charged board chairpersons and heads of agencies to ensure strict compliance with the Public Financial Management Act, stressing that prudent management of public funds was essential to achieving the intended objectives of government programmes.
He noted that resources committed to the health sector must be properly managed to maximise their impact and prevent inefficiencies that could undermine the delivery of critical services.
The mid-year review forms part of the Ministry’s broader monitoring mechanism for the government’s health agenda and its efforts to strengthen collaboration between the Ministry and its agencies.
The Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by improving access to healthcare and making services more affordable, responsive and equitable for Ghanaians.
The three-day review is expected to end with an assessment of outstanding manifesto commitments and the adoption of strategies to address implementation challenges.
The outcome is expected to guide the Ministry’s priorities for the remainder of 2026, with particular attention to programmes that require faster implementation, additional resources or stronger institutional coordination.
