By Daniel Bampoe
In a strategic move to align the health sector with the national 24-hour economy agenda, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has inaugurated a 10-member steering committee to spearhead the phased implementation of round-the-clock healthcare across the country.
The initiative is intended to deepen access to health services, optimize efficiency, and support the government’s broader ambition of stimulating economic activity beyond traditional working hours.
The committee, inaugurated by the Acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, is mandated to provide policy direction, strategic oversight, and institutional coordination to scale up existing services to meet the demands of the 24-hour economy framework.
“Our task is not to create a parallel system but to strengthen what we already have and stretch its responsiveness across time, geography, and population groups,” Prof. Akoriyea stated during the inauguration ceremony.
He emphasized that although many health facilities already offer 24/7 services, the goal is to strategically expand, standardize, and better resource these services nationwide.
The vision of a 24-hour economy, a key policy of the current administration, aims to transform Ghana into a productive, inclusive, and resilient society by encouraging continuous service delivery across key sectors—including health.
It is expected to boost employment, increase productivity, and ensure equity in access to essential services.
Dr. Samuel Boakye Boateng, Director of the Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PPMED), reinforced this point, saying, “Health is central to the success of the 24-hour economy policy. If people are to work around the clock, they must also be able to access health care anytime, anywhere.”
He noted that the committee’s task is not only technical but also symbolic of a larger shift in how public service is envisioned in a modern Ghana.
Representing the Director of the Institutional Care Division, Dr. Oduro Mensah, Deputy Director of ICD, stressed that the policy presents a transformative opportunity to address healthcare disparities, especially at the primary care level such as Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds.
According to him, collaboration, innovation, and inclusive planning will be essential in ensuring that no community is excluded from this major health system evolution.
The newly formed committee will be chaired by Prof. Akoriyea himself and includes high-ranking GHS officials such as Sylvester Bekyur Ziniel (Coordinator), Dr. Oliver Commey, Kingsford Cudjoe, Isaac Akumah (representing Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe), Madam Sophia Kesewaa Ampofo (representing Dr. Boateng), Joseph Kofi Adusei, Dr. Amma Boadu (representing Dr. Lawrence Ofori Boadu), and Mustapha Hamidu.
Among the committee’s priorities is the development of a pragmatic framework that will not only expand night-time health care but also integrate digital health support systems and mobile health innovations to reach underserved areas.
As a first step towards operationalizing this vision, Prof. Akoriyea announced the rollout of Basic Life Support (BLS) training programs across hospitals starting this month.
These trainings, he said, would later be extended to public spaces to equip both clinical and non-clinical personnel with the skills needed to respond to emergencies.
He further called on Ghanaians to take personal responsibility for their health by embracing preventive care measures such as regular medical screenings and check-ups.
“The transformation begins with a mindset shift,” he asserted.
