The Society made the call as it announced its theme for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, popularly known as Pinktober, 2026: “Early Action, Better Outcomes.”

According to the Society, breast cancer remains a major health challenge in Ghana and is the leading cause of cancer and cancer deaths among women.

It said while early breast cancer is curable, many patients continue to seek treatment when the disease has already advanced, making treatment more prolonged, expensive and less likely to result in survival.

The Society noted that Ghana has the specialist expertise and treatment facilities needed to manage breast cancer, adding that the country has become a hub for specialist care in the West African subregion.

It said the survival rate for early breast cancer treated in Ghana is above 90%, comparable to outcomes in developed countries.

However, the Society expressed concern that many survivors are unable to openly share their experiences because of the stigma associated with the disease.

It identified limited awareness, fear, stigma, misinformation, financial difficulties, geographical barriers and delays within the healthcare system as some of the factors contributing to late diagnosis and treatment.

The Society urged women not to ignore breast symptoms such as lumps, nipple discharge, changes in the shape or size of the breast, skin changes or any persistent abnormality.

It, however, stressed that the best opportunity for early diagnosis is through breast screening before symptoms develop.

The Breast Society of Ghana is therefore encouraging women to take advantage of free primary healthcare services and access breast screening at health facilities across the country.

It also called for an end to misconceptions that breast cancer is a spiritual curse or that unproven remedies can replace medical treatment.

“No woman should delay seeking medical attention because she is afraid of losing her breast, fears chemotherapy, believes breast cancer is a spiritual curse, or relies solely on unproven remedies,” the Society said.

The Society called on families and communities to support rather than stigmatise people living with breast cancer.

It further urged the media, religious and traditional leaders, civil society organisations and community leaders to use their platforms to promote accurate information and encourage early care-seeking.

Healthcare professionals and institutions were also urged to strengthen systems that minimise avoidable delays by promptly assessing, investigating and referring patients with breast symptoms.

The Society referenced the World Health Organisation’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative targets established in 2021, which seek to have at least 60% of breast cancers diagnosed at an early stage, complete diagnosis within 60 days, and ensure that 80% of diagnosed patients complete treatment.

It said achieving these targets would require a collective effort from individuals, families, communities, religious bodies, healthcare institutions, policymakers and government agencies.

The Society said early action could lead to earlier diagnosis, which in turn could expand treatment options and improve the chances of cure and survival.

“Early Action. Better Outcomes. The time to act is now,” the Society said.

The message was signed by the President of the Breast Society of Ghana, Prof. Josephine Nsaful, and General Secretary, Ms Enam Setsoafia.

Read the statement below:

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The directive follows the Minister’s inspection of the 120-bed facility, which has commenced operations and is being developed as a specialised referral centre for children.

Mr Akandoh said the additional personnel were necessary to support the hospital as it expands its services from outpatient and emergency care to inpatient services.

“The hospital has about 120-bed capacity, and it’s now in operation. I came to see first-hand how the place is working, and so far, I am impressed with what I’ve seen,” he said.

“I have directed that with immediate effect, they should bring an additional 10 medical doctors and 30 nurses and midwives to beef up the health workforce. This is a referral centre, and I think it is the first of its kind as a stand-alone children’s referral centre,” he added.

According to the Minister, most of the equipment required to operate the facility has been installed, allowing management to progressively expand the range of services available.

He said the hospital was currently providing outpatient and emergency services while preparations were underway to fully introduce inpatient care.

Mr Akandoh also charged the hospital’s management and health workers to maintain the facility properly and ensure that patients and their families are treated with dignity and respect.

“We have also impressed upon them to make sure they keep the facility well, maintain it and try to treat the patients with respect and dignity,” he said.

He added that the Ministry would continue to monitor the hospital closely because of its importance to healthcare delivery in the country.

The Minister said the government was working to resolve outstanding issues between the state and the contractor, stressing that the immediate priority was to ensure the facility serves its intended purpose.

“As far as I’m concerned, the issues between government and the contractor are being resolved. What is important is that the facility is put to good use for the citizens, and that is what we are doing at the moment,” he said.

He expressed satisfaction that the facility was now operational, saying the government’s focus was to ensure it becomes fully functional and provides the specialised services for which it was established.

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The Directorate is urging the public, particularly women, to overcome fear, stigma and misconceptions surrounding breast cancer and seek medical attention promptly.

The Acting Deputy Director of Public Health at the Directorate, Dr Hectoria Awekeya, made the call on behalf of the Volta Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Atsu Dodor.

This was in an interview with Adom News during the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month national launch, sensitisation and screening programme in Ho.

The event, held at the GNAT Hall, was organised under the theme “Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters,” with the sub-theme “United for a Breast Cancer-Free Ghana: Early Detection, Early Action, Better Outcomes.”

Dr Awekeya stressed the importance of addressing the fear, stigma and myths associated with breast cancer, noting that delayed presentation can affect treatment outcomes.

She encouraged the public to take advantage of free breast cancer screening services and seek medical attention whenever they notice unusual changes in their breasts.

According to her, early detection and timely intervention are critical to tackling the disease, while increased public awareness is needed to help reduce preventable deaths.

The Directorate is, therefore, calling on individuals, families and communities to support breast cancer awareness and screening initiatives to promote a culture of early detection.

The campaign forms part of broader efforts to increase awareness, encourage regular screening and reduce late presentation among people suspected of having breast cancer.

Trustee of Mercy Ships, Dame Anne Gloag, disclosed the target during the organisation’s engagement with President John Dramani Mahama aboard the Global Mercy at the Tema Harbour.

She said about 200 patients had already undergone surgery, with the mission expected to reach thousands more during its stay in Ghana. Procedures include cataract surgeries, cleft lip and palate repairs, tumour removals and childhood orthopaedic operations.

President Mahama said the impact of the mission went beyond the medical procedures themselves, particularly for children whose conditions had affected their confidence and participation in everyday life.

“You can imagine that child going back. He has been the butt of jokes of his friends because he has got curved legs or clubfoot or something like that and when he leaves this ship and goes back, he is going to be on that football field with his friends playing like any ordinary child,” he said.

The President also called for the mission to leave a lasting benefit for Ghana’s health system through skills transfer and stronger follow-up care.

He urged the Ministry of Health to work with Mercy Ships on patient referrals, rehabilitation and continued treatment after the vessel leaves Ghana, stressing: “A patient’s care must continue safely even after Global Mercy has left.”

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said government would work to maximise the benefits of the ship’s 10-month stay, including support for emergency cases and post-surgery care.

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The latest intervention, under the GMTF’s “Day of Giving” initiative, is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the beneficiary facilities to diagnose conditions promptly, respond to emergencies and provide quality care to patients.

The equipment delivered includes ultrasound machines, oxygen concentrators, an oxygen plant, X-ray machines and printers, responding to identified needs at the various facilities.

The beneficiary hospitals are the Volta Regional Hospital, Sefwi-Wiawso Government Hospital, Bole Municipal Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Worawora Government Hospital, Wa Municipal Hospital, Kumasi South Hospital, Eastern Regional Hospital and Northern Regional Hospital.

The latest support builds on a series of equipment interventions previously undertaken by the GMTF at other health facilities across the country, as the Fund continues to channel resources towards critical gaps affecting healthcare delivery.

Rather than limiting its anniversary to ceremonial activities, the GMTF has chosen to mark its first year with interventions designed to leave a practical and lasting impact on health facilities and the patients they serve.

Bringing diagnosis closer to patients

At the Volta Regional Hospital, the ultrasound machines are expected to strengthen diagnostic capacity and support faster clinical decision-making, particularly in situations where timely assessment can be critical to patient outcomes.

The equipment will help health professionals undertake essential imaging closer to the point of care, potentially reducing delays associated with accessing diagnostic services.

At the Worawora Government Hospital, the intervention is expected to enhance the facility’s diagnostic capacity and provide health

professionals with additional tools to assess and manage patients.

Management of the Bole Municipal Hospital also expressed appreciation for the support, noting that improved access to essential equipment would help strengthen service delivery and ease some of the pressure on healthcare workers.

At the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, the Medical Director, Dr Leslie Issah Adam Zakariah, commended the GMTF for the intervention and pledged the hospital’s continued collaboration with the Fund.

He assured the GMTF that the equipment would be put to effective use to improve patient care and support healthcare professionals in the discharge of their duties.

Expanding the impact

The latest distribution forms part of the GMTF’s broader strategy of identifying critical gaps in healthcare facilities and directing resources to areas where equipment shortages can affect diagnosis, emergency response and treatment.

Since commencing operations, the Fund has supported health facilities with various forms of medical equipment and infrastructure interventions, complementing its support for patients requiring specialised and chronic disease care.

The Administrator of the GMTF, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, said the Fund would continue to engage health facilities to identify their most pressing needs and develop interventions capable of making a measurable difference.

She said the decision to include equipment support in the Fund’s first-anniversary activities reflected the GMTF’s commitment to ensuring that its work translated into tangible improvements for both health professionals and patients.

According to her, the Fund’s interventions would continue to focus on areas where targeted support could strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to essential services.

From celebration to impact

For the nine beneficiary hospitals, the significance of the latest intervention will ultimately be measured not by the presentation ceremonies, but by what happens when the equipment goes into use.

It means a patient who can be assessed closer to the point of care.

A health professional with the right equipment to make a critical clinical decision.

An emergency team with improved capacity to respond.

And a health facility better equipped to serve its community.

As the GMTF marks its first year, the latest distribution demonstrates that its anniversary is not only a reflection on the Fund’s journey so far, but also another step in its continuing effort to strengthen healthcare delivery across Ghana.

With nine more hospitals now receiving critical equipment, the GMTF is extending a growing chain of support to health facilities across the country, turning its commitment to healthcare into practical interventions that can ultimately save lives.

The project marks a significant step in the company’s evolution from a medical equipment supplier into a broader healthcare solutions provider, with expertise spanning hospital engineering, construction, maintenance and project management.

Established in 2006 by Adann Benjamin Diaz, the company has steadily expanded its operations to serve hospitals, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and other institutions within the health sector.

According to Mr Diaz, the expansion reflects a deliberate commitment to contributing to Ghana’s healthcare development by addressing not only the need for medical technology but also the infrastructure required to deliver quality care.

“Our ambition is not simply to supply medical equipment. We want to build a company that provides solutions, develops expertise and contributes meaningfully to the infrastructure required for quality healthcare delivery in Ghana and across Africa,” he said.

This vision has informed the company’s expansion into the planning, development, management and maintenance of hospital environments, technical systems and turnkey healthcare facilities.

The integrated model enables the company to consider the full operational requirements of a healthcare facility, from the equipment clinicians need to diagnose and treat patients to the electrical systems, utilities and specialised infrastructure that keep hospitals functioning.

It is this combination of technical capabilities that has positioned ADB Ghana Medical Systems to participate in complex healthcare projects requiring close coordination between medical technology, building design and engineering systems.

A landmark investment in cancer care

The Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence is being developed on 52 acres of land at Kwaso in the Ejisu Municipality.

Named in honour of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the five-year initiative is being funded by Breast Care International (BCI), Peace and Love Hospitals, Global Health Catalyst and the University of Pennsylvania.

The overall project is estimated to cost $100 million, with approximately $10 million allocated to the first phase.

Phase One is expected to include a radiotherapy suite, research wing, artificial intelligence hub, education centre and community outreach facilities. Together, these components are intended to support cancer treatment while strengthening research, professional education and public awareness.

Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, President of Breast Care International and Founding Director of the Centre, said the facility is intended to improve access to advanced cancer care in Ghana and position the country as a destination for medical treatment.

“The Centre will also be the hub for medical tourism and stop the movement of cancer patients from Africa to other continents for treatments,” she said.

When completed, the centre is expected to employ more than 250 people and provide a range of specialised services and facilities, including chemotherapy and brachytherapy suites, CT scan simulators, admission wards, laboratories, surgical theatres and recovery wards.

The development is envisioned as an integrated centre for treatment, research, training and community outreach, with the potential to expand access to specialised cancer services for patients in Ghana and beyond.

Expanding access to specialist cardiac care

Beyond cancer care, ADB Ghana Medical Systems is also involved in the development of a specialist cardiology facility at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.

For decades, the hospital operated without a catheterisation laboratory, requiring some patients in need of specialised cardiac interventions to travel to Accra for treatment.

The new facility is intended to bring advanced cardiac services closer to patients in the Ashanti Region and neighbouring areas, reducing the need for long-distance travel to access certain specialist procedures.

A recent technical working visit to the project site brought together representatives of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, KATH and the Ministry of Health to assess key elements of the development. Discussions covered power capacity, utilities integration and structural planning.

The engagement underscored the technical complexity of developing modern specialist healthcare facilities, where medical equipment must be supported by appropriately designed buildings, reliable power systems and carefully integrated utilities.

For ADB Ghana Medical Systems, the project represents another opportunity to apply its expanding engineering and project management expertise to infrastructure intended to support specialised medical services.

Building Ghanaian expertise for Africa’s healthcare needs

The company’s involvement in the cancer centre and the KATH cardiology project reflects a broader ambition to establish a Ghanaian healthcare solutions brand with the technical capacity to compete beyond the domestic market.

Mr Diaz said the company intends to expand into other West African markets while strengthening the expertise, systems and partnerships required to deliver healthcare infrastructure to international standards.

“We believe indigenous companies have an important role to play in solving Africa’s healthcare challenges. Our responsibility is to build the expertise, systems and partnerships that allow us to deliver at the highest possible standard,” he said.

He added that the company ultimately measures its success by the contribution its work makes to patients and the delivery of healthcare services.

“Healthcare is ultimately about people. Every piece of equipment we supply, every facility we help develop and every technical solution we provide should ultimately contribute to better care for someone who needs it.”

As Ghana continues to pursue improvements in specialised healthcare, the need for infrastructure that combines medical technology, engineering and effective project management remains central to the development of modern health facilities.

For ADB Ghana Medical Systems, its growing involvement in major healthcare developments signals a long-term commitment to supporting that progress, while building the capabilities of an indigenous company with ambitions across West Africa and the wider African market.

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GMTF, HeFRA explore partnership to strengthen healthcare regulation

The engagement, held at the Secretariat of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund in Accra, focused on areas where the two institutions could leverage their respective mandates and expertise to improve healthcare infrastructure, equipment management, facility monitoring and institutional capacity.

Registrar of HeFRA, Dr. Winfred Korletey Baah, who led the agency’s delegation, described the Ghana Medical Trust Fund as a “game changer,” saying its interventions were not only transforming healthcare delivery but also making the work of health facility regulators easier.

He said the impact of GMTF went beyond the provision of equipment and infrastructure, stressing the importance of ensuring that healthcare facilities had the capacity to respond effectively to patients’ needs.

Dr. Baah said HeFRA was prepared to provide regulatory and technical support to GMTF, particularly in the assessment and monitoring of healthcare facilities and medical equipment supported through the Fund’s interventions.

HeFRA also identified infrastructure, vehicles and information technology equipment, including computers, as some of the areas where it required support to strengthen its regulatory operations.

According to Dr. Baah, closer collaboration between the two institutions could help ensure that medical equipment procured or donated through GMTF interventions was properly installed, maintained and utilised to deliver the intended benefits to patients.

He said such collaboration would also help strengthen accountability and ensure that investments in healthcare translated into improved patient outcomes.

The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, said the engagement formed part of the Fund’s broader efforts to build strategic partnerships with key institutions within the health sector as it marked its first anniversary.

She said partnerships with institutions such as HeFRA were important to ensuring that investments in healthcare infrastructure, equipment and services were effectively utilised and sustained.

The discussions underscored the need for stronger collaboration among health-sector institutions to ensure that investments in the health system translate into tangible improvements in patient care.

The proposed partnership is expected to provide opportunities for HeFRA and GMTF to complement each other’s efforts and contribute to a stronger, more efficient and better-regulated healthcare system.

Leading a team of top management staff, the CEO paid a working visit to the NAS Central Workshop at Korle-Bu to assess progress being made under the intensive engineering operation. The initiative forms part of a dedicated effort by NAS technicians and engineers who are working around the clock to reduce vehicle downtime, restore grounded ambulances, and clear the workshop of all unserviceable vehicles.

During the inspection, Dr. Owusu expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and commended the commitment and dedication demonstrated by workshop personnel. He noted that the operation remains firmly on course and is already yielding positive results.
The CEO observed that significant progress has been made in separating serviceable vehicles from unserviceable ones, a move expected to improve workshop efficiency, streamline maintenance processes, and enhance overall fleet management.

He further highlighted the introduction of fleet management software, which is expected to strengthen monitoring, maintenance scheduling, and decision-making regarding the Service’s ambulance fleet, ultimately boosting operational readiness across the country.
As part of efforts to safeguard assets and improve accountability, Dr. Owusu also disclosed that additional security measures are being implemented at the workshop, including the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems.

The current operations focus heavily on restoring ambulances that developed major mechanical faults after six years of intensive and continuous nationwide service. The primary objective is to service, repair, and return as many ambulances as possible to active duty while ensuring that beyond-economic-repair vehicles are properly identified and managed.

Dr. Owusu also acknowledged the important role of the media in promoting accountability and keeping public institutions responsive. He, however, stressed the need for accurate and balanced reportage that reflects the realities of emergency medical service delivery, including the demanding conditions under which NAS personnel operate and the significant volume of emergency cases attended to daily across the country.

The strategic intervention underscores the commitment of the National Ambulance Service to maintaining maximum operational readiness and strengthening timely emergency medical response for the people of Ghana.

The initiative is aimed at promoting preventive healthcare, early detection, and health awareness among prison populations who may have limited access to regular prostate screening due to their incarceration.

The exercise began over the weekend at the Kumasi Central Prison, where 350 people benefited from the screening.

The beneficiaries included 300 male inmates and 50 prison officers, comprising both males and females.

A six-member medical team, made up of two doctors, a sonographer, three nurses, and a laboratory technician, conducted the exercise.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Prostate Health Foundation Ghana, Rebecca Nana Yaa Konadu, said participants underwent prostate scans and Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) tests, alongside other general health examinations.

“We did a scan, that is prostate scan, and then we did a PSA test.

Among other tests, we did hepatitis B, typhoid fever, malaria, and fasting blood sugar.

The prostrate screening is a very critical intervention for the inmates because many have been imprisoned for years, and if we don’t check by the time they finish their sentences, their prostrate conditions may have reached a deadly stage,” she explained.

According to the Foundation, some inmates were found to have minor indications of prostate-related conditions and have been referred for further tests and assessment.

The screening team also observed cases of elevated blood pressure among some prison officers, although not all the cases were significantly high.

The Foundation said the observation underscored the importance of regular blood-pressure monitoring, particularly for people working in demanding environments.

Other health concerns were also identified among some inmates, highlighting the need for continued access to healthcare services within correctional facilities.

The screening exercise also provided participants with health education on the importance of regular medical check-ups and early detection of diseases.

The Foundation said the programme would target communities and institutions across the country, with particular attention to men aged 40 years and above who may have limited access to regular prostate screening.

The organisation cited prostate cancer as a major global health concern, noting that it is among the most common cancers affecting men.

The Prostate Health Foundation Ghana said it believes early detection can improve health outcomes and remains committed to taking prostate screening and health education to communities and institutions across Ghana.

The Foundation expressed appreciation to the Ghana Prisons Service and the management of the Kumasi Central Prison for their support and cooperation.

According to the Queen Mother, stigma remains a major barrier that prevents some breast cancer patients from openly discussing their condition and seeking timely medical attention.

She urged families, friends and communities to provide emotional support and encouragement to breast cancer patients instead of making them feel ashamed or isolated because of their condition.

Naa Badu Adiagba I noted that when people are stigmatized, they may be reluctant to disclose their health challenges or seek medical assistance, which can make early detection and prevention more difficult.

She therefore appealed to Ghanaians to create a supportive environment where breast cancer patients can confidently access medical care and continue with their treatment without fear of discrimination.

The Queen Mother also encouraged breast cancer patients not to be discouraged by negative comments or opinions from others. She advised them to focus on their medical examinations, follow the advice of qualified health professionals and remain committed to their treatment.

She emphasized that compassion, education and community support are essential in the fight against breast cancer and urged everyone to play a role in reducing stigma surrounding the disease.

But for Patience Appau Owusu, a 28-year-old trained nurse, graduation did not lead her to work at hospital wards but rather saw the wards become her unusual home as she is admitted countless number of times.

Her life has been agonisingly put on hold as she fights a grueling, solitary battle for survival against stage 5 chronic kidney disease.

“I always compare myself to them (course mates) in my mind. That if not for sickness, I’d also be working by now. So, I always feel sad about that. that if not for this sickness, I would’ve been working with them,” Patience retorted as she panted for breath.

Just as she was preparing to write her final licensing examinations at Tepa Nursing Training School in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti region, Patience’s world unraveled.

What started as subtle physical struggles degenerated into a chronic condition after hospital diagnosis revealed a devastating truth – her kidneys were failing.

“I was at Tepa. I was about to write my final exams, that’s my license exams. That was when I started feeling sick. So, I went to a hospital called Pesga, and the doctor told me I’m having a kidney failure. That was when I discovered I’m having a kidney failure. So, he referred me to Sunyani Teaching Hospital, which I met a doctor over there. Then, he started the procedure over there. From then, I came to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital”

Patience’s existence has been confined to regular dialysis sessions and a desperate wait for a life-saving kidney transplant.

The once active, vibrant and abled young woman full of energy with potential to become a nurse and serve her community now relies on her mother for everything, including the most basic daily needs such as bathing, walking outside, and even feeding.

“In my daily routine, my mum will bathe me… even when I want to eat, they have to feed me. Because when I try to do something on my own, I feel exhausted. Even when I want to walk, my mum needs to support me… I can’t do something without getting exhausted.”
There’s little Patience could do now, as her days of toil and sleepless nights to pass her examinations have all come to naught.

“When I look at the old me because I was very active, the old me and I have always had an aspiration to work hard. But due to this sickness, I can’t do anything on my own. I can’t go anywhere. Even when I look at my certificates too, I cry.”.

Confined to a bed on the floor, she battles fluctuating body temperatures and severe physical discomfort as she cannot lie down comfortably for long periods.
“Even when I look at my certificates, I cry.”

Patience has lived with this condition for the past four years. She requires three dialysis sections a week, the cost of two of which, until recently, were absorbed by the government.
Despite the state support, the financial burden of expensive medications and regular dialysis has pushed her single mother, a seamstress at Tepa to the brink.

“I am unable to work as a seamstress at Tepa. Why me? Why should I be the one to fight this complex disease? I cannot leave her side to work. This has brought untold hardship on us.”

Patience joins a long queue of kidney failure patients receiving care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Doctors say Patience first developed an autoimmune condition called lupus, which in turn affected her kidneys.

“Unfortunately for her, she’s developed kidney failure, and when we say kidney failure or end-stage kidney disease, what it means is that the kidneys are practically not working. And because of that, she’s going to require some support, which we call hemodialysis, to be able to survive,” says a Consultant Nephrologist, Prof. Elliot Koranteng Tannor.

So what is an autoimmune condition? A consultant nephrologist at KATH who is also an associate professor at the School of Medical Sciences at KNUST, Prof. Elliot Koranteng Tannor, has been explaining how autoimmune conditions affect the body.

“For her in particular, we believe what may have caused her condition is this autoimmune. When we say autoimmune, what we are saying is that for some reason, especially in females, some part of the body starts fighting other parts of the body, right? So instead of your body fighting against infections, somehow, somehow, things can go amiss and they begin to fight the organs of the body. So when they fight the heart or they fight the liver or they fight the kidney, we have names for it. And for her in particular, this autoimmune condition which we call lupus has affected her kidney.” Prof Tannor added.

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has, for the last 10 years, seen kidney-related cases at the Outpatient Department quadruple. At least, 70 per cent of cases seen at KATH are in their end stages because the cases are reported late.

The renal dialysis centre sees at least 20 cases daily. Kidney failure caused by lupus is common in the consulting rooms. Prof Tannor says the permanent solution to Patience’s condition is a kidney transplant.

“As I speak to you now, she’s already started kidney replacement therapy, which we call hemodialysis. And she’s going to need this hemodialysis for the rest of her life until she’s able to replace, or until she’s able to get a kidney transplantation.”

Though a donor is available, the cost involved in the surgery and palliative care is estimated at US $100,000, something Patience cannot afford.

Patience is appealing to the public for financial assistance to raise funds for her transplant surgery so she can reclaim her life, especially her career.

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The agreement was signed in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr Geoffrey Hanley.

Under the arrangement, Ghanaian nurses deployed to the Caribbean country will receive enhanced salaries, health insurance and rent allowances, alongside other improved employment benefits.

The agreement also provides for end-of-service benefits and guarantees other labour rights for the Ghanaian professionals.

Mr Ablakwa said the agreement strengthens cooperation between Ghana and Saint Kitts and Nevis while providing greater protection for Ghanaian nurses working abroad.

“Ghana will continue to pursue impactful diplomacy which benefits the people we serve,” Mr Ablakwa said in a Facebook post on Monday.

He also praised Ghanaian professionals for their contribution to the international workforce, noting that their skills and expertise continue to attract demand from countries around the world.

The latest agreement builds on the two countries’ labour cooperation and is expected to provide stronger safeguards for Ghanaian nurses taking up employment opportunities in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

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His call follows President John Dramani Mahama’s disclosure that Cabinet rejected a proposed United States health compact after raising concerns over provisions that required Ghana to provide its pathogen profile and medical records.

Reacting to the President’s comments in a social media post, Mr Barker-Vormawor welcomed the government’s decision to reject the proposal but argued that Ghana needs stronger legal safeguards to prevent similar arrangements in the future.

“I would propose that we actually pass legislation that expressly forbids Ghana from sharing critical health data with foreign countries or companies,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged that legislation could be amended by a future government, raising concerns about the long-term protection of Ghana’s health data.

“But one legislation can be amended by the next,” he added.

Mr Barker-Vormawor also expressed concern that attempts to secure access to Ghana’s health data could return through different arrangements, including contracts with private health solutions companies or technology providers.

He suggested that such arrangements could potentially be presented as health-sector solutions involving services, artificial intelligence or other technologies.

“If this country to country deal doesn’t work, they will come back as health solutions company offering services that some minister will single handedly contract out under some sole sourcing arrangement,” he said.

He further questioned whether Ghana’s political leadership could be relied upon to protect the country’s interests over the long term.

“I’m torn! Empire lays traps for us all around! Yet, our politicians cannot be trusted to hold the fort long term. How sad,” he said.

His comments come amid renewed debate over the protection of Ghana’s health data and the terms attached to international health partnerships.

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• Sarkodie applauds Mahama over rejection of US health compact

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Sarkodie thanked the President for what he described as a step towards restoring Ghana’s dignity and respect on the international stage.

“Thank you, Mr. President… Hopefully one day we gain back the full respect deserved,” he wrote.

His comments come after President Mahama disclosed that Cabinet swiftly rejected the proposed health compact following concerns over some of its provisions.

Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Friday, September 25, 2026, President Mahama said the Health Ministry had reviewed the compact, which was presented as a replacement for funding Ghana lost following the termination of USAID support.

The Ministry subsequently prepared a Cabinet Information Paper on the agreement.

“And so the compact was brought to the cabinet, and we flagged several things in the compact,” President Mahama said.

Thank you Mr President … Hopefully one day we gain back the full respect deserved 🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/790cRL7C8r

— Sarkodie (@sarkodie) September 28, 2026

According to him, one of the major concerns was a provision requiring Ghana to provide its pathogen profile, information on diseases endemic to the country.

“It means that diseases that are endemic in Ghana. What are diseases endemic in Ghana? What is the pathogen profile of a country? I’m sure there are medical experts who understand that better than me,” he said.

President Mahama also questioned a separate requirement for Ghana to provide medical records.

“I mean, who takes another country’s medical records? And so that was strange,” he said.

He further disclosed that the agreement required Ghana to contribute a specified amount of funding towards the programme while restricting the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) from inspecting medicines and medical products brought into the country under the arrangement.

President Mahama described the conditions as “humiliating” and said Cabinet consequently rejected the compact within a short period.

“I mean, it was humiliating. And so it was the compact that was thrown out in record time in our cabinet. I’ve never seen anything thrown out as fast as that. And so, of course, we rejected it,” he said.

Sarkodie’s remarks have since drawn attention to the President’s account of the negotiations and the government’s decision to reject the proposed agreement.

A KNUST delegation, led by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. David Asamoah paid a working visit to the GMTF on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor to explore the possibility of this collaboration between the two institutions.

The discussions focused on how AI and other scientific innovations could be applied to address challenges in the health sector, improve efficiency, and support better outcomes for patients.

Prof. Asamoah said KNUST was interested in working with the GMTF to translate scientific research and technological innovation into practical solutions that could benefit the health sector.

As part of the proposed collaboration, KNUST is seeking the support of GMTF to make some of its health facilities and centres available for a pilot programme to test the application of AI-driven solutions in healthcare delivery

The pilot could provide an opportunity to assess how AI can support healthcare professionals, improve service delivery and generate data-driven insights for decision-making.

The two institutions also explored the possibility of deploying AI systems to support the internal operations of the Trust Fund, including areas where technology could improve efficiency, data management, monitoring and coordination of its interventions.

The engagement forms part of broader efforts by the GMTF to build strategic partnerships with academic, scientific and professional institutions to strengthen specialised healthcare delivery and maximise the impact of its interventions.

The proposed KNUST-GMTF collaboration is expected to create a platform for linking research, technology and healthcare practice, with the ultimate objective of developing innovative solutions that can be scaled across the health sector.

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The engagement formed part of his ongoing consultations with stakeholders and took place at the GMA House at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The meeting, led by GMA President Professor Dr Ernest Yorke, focused on a range of concerns affecting healthcare delivery and medical professionals in the country.

Among the issues discussed were health workforce retention, brain drain, remuneration and the distribution of medical personnel, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

The discussions also covered emergency preparedness, conditions of service, deprived-area allowances and the role of the private sector in strengthening healthcare delivery.

Another major issue was the proposal by the Medical and Dental Council to introduce an additional licensing examination for locally trained medical doctors.

Dr Bawumia described the engagement as fruitful and said the concerns and proposals presented highlighted the need to reconsider aspects of Ghana’s healthcare policies.

He said innovative approaches emerging from the discussions could contribute to transformational changes for medical professionals and the wider health sector.

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The President, who was speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Friday, September 25, 2026, said the Health Ministry studied the compact, which was offered to replace funding Ghana lost when USAID support ended.

The ministry then prepared a Cabinet Information Paper.

“And so the compact was brought to cabinet and we flagged several things in the compact,” he said.

The first was a provision requiring Ghana to hand over its pathogen profile, which he described as the diseases endemic in the country.

“It means that diseases that are endemic in Ghana. What are diseases endemic in Ghana? What is the pathogen profile of a country? I’m sure there are medical experts who understand that better than me,” he said.

Why Ghana flagged and declined to sign the new USA Health Compact Agreement.

President Mahama disclosed that Ghana flagged several issues in a health compact proposed by the U.S. as a replacement for USAID funding.

JDM explains 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/rD6AbWemWJ

— Kiss Me Quikk (@Kiss_Mequikk) September 27, 2026

The compact also required Ghana to hand over its medical records, a demand the President found hard to understand.

“I mean, who takes another country’s medical records? And so that was strange,” he said.

Mr Mahama said the agreement further required Ghana to put up a certain amount of money towards the programme, and barred the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) from inspecting any medicines or medical products brought into the country under it.

He described those conditions as “humiliating”, and said Cabinet dealt with the document swiftly.

“I mean, it was humiliating. And so it was the compact that was thrown out in record time in our cabinet. I’ve never seen anything thrown out as fast as that. And so, of course, we rejected it,” he said.

The Health Minister was then asked to inform the US Ambassador that Ghana did not need the compact.

One year into the Fund’s existence, Dr. Abdallah says its intervention in the treatment of patients with complex neurological conditions has not only saved lives and restored quality of life, but has also brought something many doctors had quietly been losing: hope.

As a neurosurgeon at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Abdallah has been involved in the treatment of more than 10 patients supported by the Fund.

Among the most significant cases, he said, were six patients who underwent brain aneurysm surgery with GMTF support, marking, according to him, the first time six such cases had been sponsored and carried out in a public hospital.

A brain aneurysm, he explained, can be like a ticking time bomb. Before the Fund’s intervention, treatment was available in Ghana, but the cost of coiling could range between US$15,000 and US$20,000, placing it beyond the reach of many patients.

For those unable to raise the money, the diagnosis came with a devastating psychological burden.

“They were living with the mental torture that they were a walking time bomb,” Dr. Abdallah said, describing the fear that another blood vessel could rupture in the brain at any time.

GMTF changed that reality for the patients.

In one emergency case, he said, the Fund stepped in and settled the patient’s treatment costs without the lengthy processes that could delay care.

For Dr. Abdallah, that intervention was more than financial assistance.

“We saved this patient.”

The Fund has also supported patients with brain tumours, including pituitary tumours that can progressively destroy a patient’s vision and, if untreated, become fatal.

Dr. Abdallah said that without financial support, some patients would have waited months or even years while trying to raise money for surgery. By then, some could lose their sight, while others risked dying as their tumours grew.

GMTF’s intervention, he said, has therefore meant more than paying hospital bills.

It has meant giving patients back their sight, their lives and, in some cases, what feels like a second chance at life.

But perhaps the most profound impact, according to Dr. Abdallah, is one that is rarely discussed; the effect on the mental health of healthcare professionals.

Doctors, he explained, are often confronted with the painful reality of diagnosing a patient early, knowing that timely treatment could make a difference, only to watch that patient return much later in a worse condition because the family could not afford the surgery.

“That can be depressing,” he said.

Sometimes, when families exhaust their resources, doctors and other hospital staff step in. They contribute from their own pockets and organise collections among colleagues simply to keep a patient alive.

But the emotional toll does not end in the hospital.

Dr. Abdallah described the pain of going home and reflecting on patients who might have had better outcomes if they had received treatment earlier.

When such situations occur repeatedly, he said, the psychological burden begins to affect doctors themselves.

That is why the emergence of GMTF represents a different kind of relief.

“The fact that I don’t have to dip my hands into my pocket to do round collection to save a patient, I think it is great,” he said.

For Dr. Abdallah, the Fund is therefore also restoring confidence among healthcare workers that patients can receive the treatment they need without doctors having to personally carry the financial burden.

It gives clinicians the reassurance that their country has their backs.

“It gives us a lot of hope,” he said, expressing optimism that as the Fund grows, more complex surgeries can be performed and outcomes can increasingly match those seen in developed healthcare systems.

For the patients supported by GMTF, it may be the beginning of life again.

For the doctors caring for them, it is something equally profound:

the restoration of hope, relief from an invisible burden, and the reassurance that they do not have to fight alone to save a life.

And in the words of Dr. Abdallah:

“Our mental health is restored, courtesy of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.”

The development is expected to boost the region’s capacity to provide specialised medical care and reduce the need for residents to travel outside Savannah for advanced treatment.

The site was handed over to the contractor on Friday as part of government’s broader plan to improve referral healthcare infrastructure in Savannah, Oti and the Western North regions.

Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced the Savannah project milestone in a Facebook post on Sunday, September 27.

Each of the three regions is expected to receive a new 160-bed regional referral hospital, providing additional facilities and strengthening access to specialised healthcare.

The hospitals are also expected to ease pressure on existing health facilities while improving the referral system for patients requiring higher-level medical attention.

He said government had formally handed over the Damongo site to the contractor, paving the way for construction to begin.

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She said the potential of traditional medicine could be better harnessed if products were subjected to rigorous research, proper regulation and manufacturing standards to guarantee their safety, quality and effectiveness.

Prof. Ayensu-Danquah made the remarks when she visited the Centre of Awareness (COA) Research and Manufacturing Company in the Central Region, where she interacted with management and staff and inspected its facilities to assess compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

She pointed to China as an example of a country where traditional and conventional medicine are used alongside each other, saying Ghana could explore a similar approach while maintaining appropriate scientific and regulatory safeguards.

According to her, stronger collaboration between practitioners of traditional and conventional medicine could improve healthcare outcomes, particularly if medicines used by the public are properly researched and meet required safety and quality standards.

Prof. Ayensu-Danquah also linked the discussion to the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, saying its focus on prevention and health promotion creates an opportunity to examine how scientifically validated traditional medicine can contribute to primary healthcare.

She identified conditions such as hypertension and diabetes as areas where traditional medicine could potentially play a role, subject to scientific validation and effective regulation.

The Chief Executive Officer of COA Manufacturing Company, Prof. (HC) Samuel Ato Duncan, welcomed the government’s renewed interest in developing the sector.

He said bringing traditional medicine to the required standards could allow it to complement national healthcare programmes, including the Free Primary Healthcare initiative.

Prof. Duncan disclosed that COA was conducting research into the potential health benefits of some of its products, including possible applications in the management of cancer and viral diseases.

He stressed that sustained research and collaboration among traditional medicine practitioners, researchers and government institutions would be critical to building stronger scientific evidence around traditional medicines.

Prof. Ayensu-Danquah said the Ministry of Health would continue working with stakeholders to strengthen research, quality assurance, manufacturing and regulation within the sector.

She said the ultimate goal was to develop a healthcare system where traditional and conventional medicine can safely complement each other, guided by scientific evidence and appropriate regulatory standards.

The President made the remarks while responding to questions about Ghana’s decision to back out of the package, which involved about $74 million in support for the country’s health sector.

Speaking at a meeting with the Council on Foreign Relations in the United States, President Mahama said the fact that Ghana needed healthcare assistance should not be the basis for accepting every form of support.

He said the experience had reinforced the need for Ghana and other African countries to build greater independence in financing and managing their healthcare systems.

President Mahama has subsequently intensified his call for health sovereignty across Africa, urging governments on the continent to invest more significantly in their own healthcare systems rather than relying heavily on external support.

He said the withdrawal of the US funding had exposed the vulnerability of African health systems to decisions made outside the continent.

According to him, the experience also contributed to the development of the Accra Reset initiative, which seeks to promote greater African sovereignty in healthcare financing and the production of essential medicines and vaccines.

President Mahama said, as Chairman of the African Union, he intends to use his position to advance efforts to enable Ghana and other African countries to produce essential medicines and vaccines locally.

He stressed the importance of strengthening Africa’s capacity to finance its healthcare needs and reduce dependence on external assistance.

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The directive was issued by the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency, MoFFA, after an inspection exercise uncovered challenges in occupational health and safety, infection prevention, and environmental sanitation at some facilities.

The exercise, according to the inspection team, exposed several lapses in the management of some mortuary facilities.

Poor infection-prevention practices, occupational health and safety challenges, and littering within and around some mortuary compounds are some of the concerns identified.

“Most of the facilities had a lot of challenges regarding occupational health and safety, infection prevention, and also environmental safety.”

Facilities found to be complying with the required standards received commendations from the Agency.

“Some of the facilities also did well. We commended them because they were putting infection prevention practices in place, and their environment was also on point.”

The agency warned facilities operating without the required licence to correct the identified deficiencies and regularise their operations within the next ten days.

“For other facilities that are yet to get a licence to operate, we are giving them ten days to work on it, regularise their actions and meet the requirements needed for them to get the licence to operate.

“For those who don’t comply with the ten days that are given for them to regularise their actions, we would let the law take its course.”

According to MoFFA, offences under the relevant law could attract a penalty of up to six thousand penalty units, imprisonment for up to three years, or both, subject to the decision of the court.

The Agency has therefore urged all mortuary and funeral facility operators to comply with the required standards to protect public health and safety

Speaking at the Ghana Health Service’s organized event to commemorate the World Patient Safety Day in Accra, the SafeCare Country Director, Bonifacia Benefo Agyei, cited a scenario of a woman diagnosed with hypertension in her forties, expecting to live with the condition for the next thirty to forty years, observing the hundreds of clinicians, prescriptions, repeated referrals and how she will often have to carry her own medical history in her memory, because her folder or medical information does not travel with her.

Bonifacia Benefo Agyei stated that the safety of such a woman is not in a single event, but “the sum of every consultation, every prescription, every hand-off,” therefore the subject of patient safety speaks directly to such a patient.

Globally, one in ten patients is harmed while receiving care and about half of that harm is preventable, according to the World Health Organisation. NCDs,  including hypertension, diabetes, cancers and heart disease account for some 74 percent of deaths worldwide, and for more than four in ten deaths in Ghana.

She said, PharmAccess through its SafeCare program, will continue to work “alongside the Ghana Health Service, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and private providers so that quality care is owned by Ghanaian institutions and practiced by Ghanaian teams, not imported and not temporary.”

PharmAccess works to address points where NCD care breaks down

PharmAccess provides four distinct interventions to address points at which care for NCD patients tends to break down.

Through SafeCare, PharmAccess supports health institutions to assess their services against internationally recognised standards, identify gaps honestly and convert those findings into measurable improvement.

The work is delivered alongside the Ghana Health Service, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and private providers, with the explicit aim that quality is owned by Ghanaian institutions and practised by Ghanaian teams.

Globally, SafeCare has assessed thousands of facilities, 74% of which have demonstrated measurable quality improvement; systems supported through the methodology now serve approximately 9.6 million patient visits a month.

PharmAccess is also moving Ghana toward value-based care, a model that pays providers for the results patients get, rather than the number of procedures performed.

Working with the National Health Insurance Authority and CHAG, PharmAccess is evaluating the approach for hypertension and diabetes, tracking clinical outcomes, quality of life, patient experience and financial protection together rather than in isolation.

NkwaPlus, a digital health platform developed with a Tech partner Afrifanom and currently piloted with selected facilities and patient groups, addresses the interval between consultations.

It allows patients to share health information from home with their care teams, for ongoing monitoring and earlier response, so a rising risk reaches the care team before it becomes an emergency, a gap in which much preventable harm in chronic care occurs.

The Medical Credit Fund provides loans and technical assistance so that providers can act on their improvement priorities. This closes a practical loop: an assessment that identifies a risk is of limited value if the facility cannot finance the remedy.

To date the Fund has supported more than 2,100 healthcare providers and disbursed over 12,000 loans, with a 95% repayment rate; 30% of lending supports women-led health enterprises.

None of these four instruments work alone: standards identify the problem, financing fixes it, digital tools catch it early, and payment reform rewards the outcome. It is the combination that makes patients safer.

Benefo Agyei listed the four conditions to make patient safety and quality of care a daily reality; visible leadership, sustained investment, measurement that leads somewhere, patients as partners.

She said “patient safety must be a standing item at every level, from the Ministry to the ward”; “commitment must be visible in budgets, in staffing, in operational plans”; “assessments, peer reviews, incident reports and patient feedback matter only when each one ends in a named person, a date, and a change, and staff must be able to report harm without fear”; and “finally, people living with chronic conditions must be supported to understand their own care”.

She urged delegates to agree on a short list of actions, each with a responsible lead, a timeline, a budget and a measure of success, and proposed that, by the next commemoration, the sector should be able to state which actions were funded, which were implemented, and how patients were safer as a result.

On behalf of PharmAccess and its country director, Dr Maxwell Antwi, she reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to provide technical support and help mobilise resources with partners.

“The strongest expression of our commitment will not be spoken here today,” she said. “It will be what changes in our facilities tomorrow.”

Tony Goodman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, said work had already resumed on some of the projects, while government was also exploring partnerships to push others towards completion.

Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, Mr Goodman said about 10 facilities were already showing progress, with government resources being directed towards projects considered more advanced.

“We’ve also put in place a clear plan, which is to get government resources to complete about 35 of them,” he said.

He explained that the Ministry was also considering collaboration with organisations such as the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), non-governmental organisations and multinational companies to help complete some of the remaining facilities.

According to him, the strategy is aimed at ensuring that investments already made in the abandoned projects do not go to waste.

“I can tell you, if you go to some of the sites, Agenda 111 is currently ongoing. About 10 of them I can speak to now are currently seeing some improvement. So that is the plan,” Goodman said.

He said the government was prioritising facilities that were further along in construction in order to maximise the use of resources already committed to the projects.

However, Mr Goodman cautioned that completing all 111 hospitals within a short period would be unrealistic, given the financial resources required.

“You cannot do 101 hospitals within a year or two. That is not possible,” he said.

The comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the future of the Agenda 111 programme, particularly after government announced plans to construct three 160-bed regional referral hospitals in Oti, Savannah and Western North.

Former Health Minister and Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, has questioned the move to undertake new hospital projects while several facilities under Agenda 111 remain incomplete.

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The constituency’s Communications Officer, Sumaila Jafaru, raised concerns about what he described as misplaced development priorities, particularly as the hospital project remains unfinished and inner roads in Pusiga, Widana and Kulungungu are reportedly in poor condition.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Jafaru said the Agenda 111 hospital is about 70 percent complete and should be prioritised to improve access to healthcare for residents.

He questioned the rationale behind pursuing a new 24-hour market while a major healthcare project remains incomplete.

Mr. Jafaru also criticised the demolition of the old Pusiga market and the subsequent relocation of traders, alleging that the process was poorly planned.

According to him, the new market has a smaller capacity than the old facility, resulting in some traders being displaced. He further claimed that some affected traders have been forced to construct their own sheds and kiosks to continue their businesses.

He also raised concerns about the location of the new market, saying it has been sited within a residential area.

The NPP Communications Officer stressed that the party was not opposed to the development of a market but was questioning its priority in the face of what he considers more pressing infrastructure needs.

He maintained that completing the district hospital and improving the condition of inner roads would have a more immediate impact on residents, particularly those who rely on the roads for transportation and access to essential services.

A former constituency party chairman also appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and the Member of Parliament for Pusiga, Hajia Lardi Ayii Ayamba, to prioritise the completion of the district hospital and rehabilitation of the inner roads.

He said the people of Pusiga deserved development projects that addressed their most urgent needs and produced tangible results.

According to Mr Kwakye Ofosu, the projects form part of the government’s broader strategy to improve healthcare delivery in Ghana by expanding critical health infrastructure and increasing access to quality medical services across the country.

The Minister made the announcement in a Facebook post on Tuesday, September 22, while sharing the architectural design for the proposed Regional Referral Hospital in the Oti Region.

He said the facility will form part of the government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to referral services for residents in the region.

The planned sod-cutting ceremonies for the three hospitals will mark the commencement of projects expected to provide additional capacity for specialised and referral healthcare services in the Oti, Savannah and Western North Regions.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the initiative reflects President Mahama’s broader commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure as part of the government’s development agenda.

Speaking on the first anniversary of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, WHO Country Representative to Ghana, Dr. Fiona Braka, congratulated the government, the leadership of the Fund and the people of Ghana for what she described as significant progress since its establishment.

Dr. Braka particularly acknowledged President John Dramani Mahama for the vision behind the Fund, saying the initiative was making a difference by helping vulnerable patients access treatment without being overwhelmed by the cost of care.

She said the Fund was complementary to other government health initiatives, including the Free Primary Healthcare Initiative and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), with the various interventions designed to provide Ghanaians with access to healthcare at different levels.

“Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that everyone accesses services regardless of where they are and what they are suffering from,” she said.

Hope for patients with chronic diseases

According to Dr. Braka, the establishment of the Fund has brought renewed hope to vulnerable citizens who previously struggled to afford treatment for chronic and high-cost conditions.

She cited cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular diseases and stroke among conditions that could impose significant financial burdens on patients and their families.

Beyond direct patient support, she said, the Fund was also investing in the broader health system through infrastructure development, medical equipment and the training of health professionals.

“This fund is not just looking at patient support, but it’s also looking at medical equipment, it’s looking at the infrastructure, it’s looking at the human resources or workforce capacities, and there’s also the aspect of research,” Dr. Braka said.

She noted that strengthening specialist healthcare required adequately trained doctors, nurses and other health professionals capable of managing complex and chronic conditions.

Linking the healthcare system

The WHO representative also highlighted what she described as an emerging pathway linking Ghana’s healthcare reforms.

Under the model, patients would receive free primary healthcare at the primary level, benefit from the NHIS at the next level, and access specialised care through the Mahama CARES initiative, including the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, where necessary.

Dr. Braka said the definition of this pathway represented an important development because patients should be able to move seamlessly between different levels of care depending on their medical needs.

She cited the cardiac centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as an example of the Fund’s emerging impact, recalling WHO’s participation in its launch.

“It was a moment of pride for everyone to see that we are actually seeing it coming to bear,” she said.

WHO urges sustainable funding

Looking ahead, Dr. Braka urged stakeholders to focus on establishing sustainable financing arrangements for the Fund to ensure that its gains are maintained beyond its first year.

She called for the institutionalization of funding arrangements, including protected budget lines, to provide the initiative with predictable and sustainable financing.

“The sustainable component is extremely important,” she stressed.

She also called for the expansion of the Fund’s coverage to bring more patients into the financing mechanism and extend support beyond the diseases initially prioritized.

Dr. Braka said there was a need to consider additional disease conditions as the Fund expanded, while ensuring that its operations remained integrated with Ghana’s wider healthcare reforms.

Ghana as a model for innovative health financing

The WHO representative expressed hope that Ghana’s experience with the Fund could provide lessons for other countries seeking innovative ways to advance universal health coverage.

She said effective implementation, transparent data and evidence demonstrating the Fund’s impact would be important in showing whether the financing mechanism was reaching an increasing number of people and reducing financial hardship.

“We know that we are all working towards universal health coverage, and Ghana is leading in many ways,” she said.

Dr. Braka expressed optimism that Ghana could demonstrate to the African region and the wider world how innovative financing mechanisms could help close gaps in healthcare financing and advance universal health coverage.

She reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting the initiative, saying the organisation had been involved from its inception and would continue working with the government to help translate its vision into tangible benefits for Ghanaians.

“As WHO, we congratulate the Government of Ghana on this one-year milestone,” Dr. Braka said, adding that the organisation remained a committed partner in efforts to make the Fund sustainable and beneficial to more citizens.

The call was made by the Head of the Pediatric Oncology Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Professor Vivian Paintsil, during a childhood cancer awareness walk through the principal streets of Kumasi.

September is observed globally as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a period dedicated to creating awareness about cancer in children and the importance of early detection.

In Kumasi, health professionals took the message to the streets, distributing flyers and educating the public on some of the warning signs of childhood cancer.

The campaign is being undertaken in collaboration with the Pediatric Society of Ghana and the Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana.

“Children do get cancer, but when they do get cancer, they can be healed. If you take ten children with cancer, eight of them can be cured if they come in early enough.”

Professor Paintsil says parents should not ignore unusual weight loss, frequent bleeding, lumps or swellings on the body, or a white spot appearing in a child’s eye.

“When you see weight loss or the child easily bleeds, think about childhood cancer. If there is any white spot in the eye, think about childhood cancer. If the child is getting lumps and swellings anywhere in the body, think about childhood cancer.”

She adds that persistent morning vomiting could also be a warning sign, particularly in cases involving brain tumours.

“If the child wakes up in the morning and is vomiting, think about childhood cancer, because brain tumours can present like that.”

According to her, parents should not allow fear of a cancer diagnosis to prevent them from seeking medical care.

“We know it’s scary. Whenever you are told of a cancer diagnosis, we know it is scary. But although you are scared, make that effort and bring the child to us so that we can be able to manage it appropriately.”

Professor Paintsil is also calling for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to improve childhood cancer care and research in Ghana.

She says efforts are being made through the Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana to mobilise support for a possible dedicated childhood cancer research centre.

“We all need to come together so that we can be able to manage these children and save them. Parents, bring your children early so that we can be able to save your child,” she stated.

The project, according to Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, is intended to replace the hospital’s existing and dilapidated Maternity Unit.

In a post on X , Minister of Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the project forms part of President John Mahama’s efforts to invest in major, world-class health infrastructure.

The new facility is expected to provide a range of specialised services and units, including Obstetrics and Gynaecology Wards, Labour and Delivery Suites, Operating Theatres, and a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

It will also include a High Dependency Unit (HDU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, as well as Antenatal and Postnatal Clinics.

Other facilities will include Fertility and Reproductive Health Clinics, Breastfeeding and Family Planning Units, an Emergency Obstetric Care Unit, Diagnostic Imaging Department, Laboratory and Blood Bank Facilities, and a Pharmacy Department.

The project will further provide a Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD), Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Units, alongside facilities for teaching, research and conferences.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu described the development as part of President Mahama’s renewed investment in major health infrastructure aimed at improving healthcare delivery in the country.

The company’s involvement marks an expansion of its operations from medical equipment supply into hospital engineering, construction, maintenance and project management.

Established in 2006 by Adann Benjamin Diaz, ADB Ghana Medical Systems has evolved from a medical supplies business into a specialist healthcare solutions provider serving hospitals, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and other institutions within the health sector.

Mr Diaz said the company’s growing participation in major healthcare infrastructure projects reflects its ambition to contribute to Ghana’s health sector beyond the supply of medical equipment.

“Our ambition is not simply to supply medical equipment. We want to build a company that provides solutions, develops expertise and contributes meaningfully to the infrastructure required for quality healthcare delivery in Ghana and across Africa,” he said.

ADB Ghana Medical Systems has expanded its services to include the planning, management and maintenance of hospital environments and technical systems, as well as turnkey hospital construction.

The company says the integrated approach enables it to address the broader needs of healthcare facilities, covering everything from medical equipment required by clinicians to the infrastructure, utilities and technical systems needed to keep hospitals operational.

This capability has positioned the company to participate in projects requiring coordination between clinical requirements, building infrastructure and specialised hospital systems.

The Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence is being developed on 52 acres of land at Kwaso in the Ejisu Municipality.

Named in honour of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the five-year project is being funded by Breast Care International (BCI), Peace and Love Hospitals, Global Health Catalyst and the University of Pennsylvania.

The overall project is estimated at $100 million, with the first phase expected to cost about $10 million.

The newly commissioned Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound is expected to bring essential healthcare closer to residents, reducing the long and risky trips many have had to undertake, often across the Oti River, to seek medical attention.

For a community where river travel is part of daily life, the dangers involved in emergencies have been a major concern, especially for vulnerable groups.

For many residents, access to healthcare has remained a persistent struggle over the years, affecting overall wellbeing and slowing efforts to improve living conditions.

The commissioning of the facility marks a significant step in addressing these challenges and supporting the municipality’s progress toward universal health coverage.

The project, supported through the Assembly Common Fund, reflects the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly’s commitment to expanding health infrastructure in hard-to-reach communities.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Nkwanta South, Joseph Awal Antwi, said the CHPS compound would directly improve the lives of residents across the fishing communities.

He noted that enhancing healthcare delivery is a key part of broader national efforts to ensure health services are available and accessible to all.

According to him, in line with the vision of President John Dramani Mahama to achieve a universal healthcare system, the facility will help prioritize the health needs of the people and ensure timely access to basic medical care.

He urged community members to take responsibility for the maintenance and protection of the facility, and to support health workers who will be posted to operate the compound.

He emphasized that community cooperation will be essential to making the CHPS compound effective and sustainable.

In interviews with Adom News, residents expressed gratitude to the MCE, the Member of Parliament, and President John Mahama for responding to their long-standing concerns.

They highlighted the difficulties they have faced over the years, particularly pregnant women who often struggled to access care during emergencies.

With the CHPS compound now in place, community members say they are hopeful that preventable health complications will reduce, response times will improve, and families will no longer have to gamble with their lives in search of basic healthcare.

In a post on X, the award-winning musician said vendors could make a significant difference to their businesses by adopting basic hygiene practices such as wearing gloves, nose masks and hair caps.

“Only if roadside food vendors knew how much of a difference it would make in their sales if they took hygiene a bit more seriously. Simple things like gloves, nose masks, hair caps, etc would go a long way and boost sales significantly” he said.

Sarkodie’s comments highlight the importance of maintaining good hygiene when preparing and serving food, particularly for vendors who operate along busy roads and public spaces.

The Mpraeso MP said the immediate priority should be for the Audit Service to explain why expenditure by the Ministries of Local Government and Transport was not captured in the report.

His comments follow investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni’s latest investigation into COVID-19 expenditure.

The investigation found that the Auditor-General’s special audit reported GH¢96.3 million as COVID-19 fumigation expenditure, while documents from the Ministries of Education, Local Government and Transport pointed to at least GH¢780 million spent on fumigation.

Mr Ansah Opoku said the GH¢96.3 million figure should not be automatically interpreted as the total COVID-19 fumigation expenditure.

“What I’m saying is that, from about 6:00 p.m. when we were called on JoyNews, the impression has been created that just GH¢96.3 million of the over GH¢700 million had been reported on COVID-19 expenditure, especially when it came to fumigation activities.”

“Now, it turns out that that isn’t the case. I mean, the GH¢96.3 million was for a specific Ghana Education Service activity, and it was captured in the report,” he said.

He acknowledged that the audit report did not provide extensive details on some areas of expenditure.

“And the report goes further to give further—and I can understand, there wasn’t much explanation on local government fumigation activities, I didn’t see much on transport, and all of that.”

However, he rejected calls for arrests based solely on the omissions identified so far.

“But this does not call for arrest, like just like what my senior Rockson sought to create that impression. I mean, we do not need to arrest people at this point.”

Mr Ansah Opoku said the Auditor-General is not required to report every item audited if no infraction is identified.

“It is not everything that the Auditor-General reports—audits that he reports on.”

“I think that point must be made clear. If there’s no infraction, do not expect the Auditor-General to report on that, and then maybe we may have to be dealing with several pages or several paragraphs of the Auditor-General’s report, even on institutions that are performing well and do not have any infraction.”

He said the Public Accounts Committee should first establish why the Local Government and Transport expenditure was omitted and determine the actual figures involved.

“And so, what we need to find out from the Auditor-General, and from the Audit Service, is why you omitted that of Local Government and that of Transport.”

“What are the figures? Present them to us, and we will audit.”

Also read:

• GH¢299m COVID fumigation spending was audited but left out of report – Manasseh Awuni

• People should be arrested – Dafeamekpor demands action over audit claims

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, the South Dayi MP said the revelations could point to one of the most serious public finance scandals of the Fourth Republic.

“If what Manasseh Azure Awuni is further revealing is what is actually the case, then arguably we have the greatest public finance scandal of maybe the Fourth Republic,” he said.

His comments follow Mr Awuni’s latest investigation into Ghana’s COVID-19 expenditure, which has raised questions over how pandemic funds were accounted for and reported.

Mr Dafeamekpor said the allegations become more serious if evidence shows that the Auditor-General’s office conducted a special audit but failed to report material findings to Parliament.

He cited Section 16 of the Audit Service Act, which he said requires the Auditor-General and his officers to report their findings from a special audit to Parliament.

“So where the evidence, the pieces of material evidence that he’s pieced together, points irresistibly to the fact that they actually conducted the audit of the Ministry of Local Government and Transport, but in reporting to Parliament, concealed material findings and perhaps recommendations for consideration by Parliament and perhaps led to legislative reforms from Parliament, they’re in breach of Section 16,” he said.

Mr Dafeamekpor said such an alleged failure would concern the statutory obligation attached to special audits.

“That’s under special audits,” he added.

The South Dayi MP said he was considering issuing a statement on the matter, but indicated that the allegations would require urgent action if they were established.

“So me, I’m really hesitating to issue the statement I’m minded to do,” he said.

“If this is really the issue tonight, then people should be arrested, and the arrests should be happening before daybreak tomorrow, because this cannot be countenanced under any circumstances in this country.”

His comments add political pressure to questions raised by Mr Awuni’s investigation over the handling and reporting of COVID-19 expenditure.

Also read:

• GH¢299m COVID fumigation spending was audited but left out of report – Manasseh Awuni

• COVID-19 fumigation: Withholding or underreporting GH¢720m expenditure would be serious offence – Domelevo

The President of Global Health and Swiss Country Director of Novartis, Dr. Lutz Hegeman, made this pronouncement when he led a delegation from the company to engage the management of the Trust Fund.

Dr. Hegeman said Novartis is prepared to work closely with the GMTF to ensure that more Ghanaians living with chronic diseases could access financial support for specialised treatment.

He commended the Trust Fund’s mandate to address critical gaps in healthcare delivery and technology, saying its objectives closely aligned with the work of Novartis.

Support for research

Dr Hegeman expressed particular interest in collaboration between Novartis and the GMTF in research and development.

He said Novartis is willing to provide support, including much-needed medical equipment, to strengthen specialised healthcare delivery in Ghana and also pledged the company’s support for training as part of efforts to build the capacity of healthcare professionals.

GMTF’s one-year impact

The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, used the engagement to highlight the Trust Fund’s achievements since its establishment a year ago.

Among the milestones, she cited the commissioning of an ultra-modern Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC) of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

She also pointed to the donation of medical equipment and consumables to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), as well as the Trust Fund’s ongoing construction of two cardiology centres at the Komfo Anokye and Tamale Teaching Hospitals.

Beyond infrastructure and equipment, Ms. Darko-Opoku said the Trust Fund had begun actively disbursing financial support directly to accredited treatment centres to help patients meet the cost of high-cost chronic care.

The support covers conditions and treatments including dialysis, cancer treatment, renal care and cardiovascular diseases that fall outside the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

“We have also spearheaded ongoing specialist medical training and efforts to bridge critical equipment deficits, including MRI and CT scanners, in regional facilities,” she said.

The engagement is expected to open up further opportunities for collaboration between Novartis and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund in specialised healthcare, research and development, medical equipment and professional training.

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The equipment upgrades the Centre’s cardiopulmonary bypass system, which is critical to the performance of open-heart procedures, and replaces an older-generation unit previously in use.

The donation is expected to improve operational efficiency during critical cardiovascular procedures and enhance the Centre’s capacity to provide cardiac care to patients.

Chief Executive of Quantum LC, Dr Joseph Titus Glover, said the donation formed part of the company’s commitment to supporting vital medical services at the NCTC.

“Whenever our good friend needs something, we try and support. We just donated a heater-cooler equipment used to support heart surgeries, and we are happy we show this kind of gesture to the National Cardiothoracic Centre,” he said.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the Centre, its Director, Dr Kow Entsua-Mensah, expressed appreciation to Quantum LC and WBHO Ltd for the support.

He described the donation as an extension of the longstanding relationship between the two institutions, noting that the partnership had its roots in a friendship forged during their days at Achimota School.

“For my part, I want to say a sincere thank you to Quantum LC/WBHO Ltd. This gesture is an extension of the friendship forged during our days at Achimota School, which has blossomed today to the benefit of the many patients who need heart surgery,” Dr Entsua-Mensah said.

He said the Centre looked forward to deepening its collaboration with Quantum LC and WBHO Ltd as both sides explored additional areas of partnership.

The donation follows a recent medical outreach by staff of the NCTC at the mining operations of Quantum LC/WBHO, where cardiac-related services were provided to workers and residents in communities within the companies’ operational catchment area.

Dr Entsua-Mensah said the Centre valued the partnership and was committed to expanding the collaboration.

“In the coming years, we as partners want to re-double our collaborative efforts to the greater benefit of Ghanaian heart patients,” he said.

The €75,000 equipment donation by Quantum LC and WBHO Ltd adds to support for the NCTC’s specialist cardiac services, particularly in the area of open-heart surgery, where reliable cardiopulmonary bypass equipment is essential.

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The agreement was signed by the Ministries of Health and Labour, Jobs and Employment after months of technical discussions with their counterparts in the United States.

According to the Ministry of Health, the partnership will pave the way for detailed arrangements for the ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals, particularly nurses, to the US.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 15, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the agreement goes beyond recruitment, stressing that any deployment arrangement must protect the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers.

He said the initiative forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to secure credible and decent international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals in line with Ghana’s Migration Policy and international standards.

Mr Akandoh explained that the partnership builds on the existing sister-city relationship between Accra and Columbus, as well as the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme.

He assured health professionals that the government would continue to pursue partnerships that create decent employment opportunities abroad while ensuring that the welfare and professional rights of recruited workers are protected.

The Minister said such engagements would be guided by Ghana’s Migration Policy, international best practices and global standards.

The agreement is expected to create a structured channel for qualified Ghanaian nurses and other health professionals to explore employment opportunities in Columbus, Ohio, while providing safeguards around their recruitment and deployment.

Read the full statement below

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The donation, presented on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, is part of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility efforts aimed at widening access to quality healthcare and supporting interventions that can save lives.

A delegation from Fidelity Bank Ghana, led by its Deputy Managing Director, Kwabena Boateng, visited the Fund to formally present the donation.

He was accompanied by John Paul Taabavi, Divisional Director, Corporate and Institutional Banking; Vincent Musah, Director, Public Sector Group; Joshua Elikplim Agbo, Senior Manager, Public Sector Group; Edwin Tei Mensah, Relationship Officer, Public Sector Group; and Ms. Marjorie Myers Quansah, CSR Coordinator.

‘Good health is the foundation of national development’

Speaking at the presentation, Mr. Boateng praised the Ghana Medical Trust Fund for its work in supporting Ghanaians who require specialized medical care, particularly those living with chronic non-communicable diseases.

He said Fidelity Bank was proud to support an institution whose interventions directly improve the lives of vulnerable people while contributing to the development of specialist healthcare capacity in the country.

“We are happy to support an institution which is providing financial assistance and specialist treatment for Ghanaians suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases and also training specialist health professionals,” he said.

Mr. Boateng said the donation reflected the Bank’s belief that access to quality healthcare was not only a social responsibility but also a critical ingredient for national development.

“This donation is not only a demonstration of the Bank’s strong corporate social responsibility agenda but also a reflection of its belief that good health is a foundation for national development,” he stated.

He further assured the Ghana Medical Trust Fund of Fidelity Bank’s continued support for initiatives aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and improving outcomes for patients.

Donation comes at critical time

Receiving the donation, Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, expressed gratitude to Fidelity Bank Ghana for the timely intervention.

She said the GH¢200,000 would provide much-needed assistance in responding to the increasing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases and improve access to specialised medical care for vulnerable patients.

According to her, the growing demand for specialised healthcare requires strong collaboration between government and the private sector.

She therefore called for continued support from corporate institutions such as Fidelity Bank to complement government’s efforts to build a resilient and responsive healthcare system.

Ms. Darko-Opoku commended Fidelity Bank Ghana for the gesture and assured the Bank that its contribution would be put to its intended purpose.

She pledged that every contribution received by the Trust Fund would be channelled towards saving lives, supporting patients and creating lasting impact.

The GH¢200,000 donation adds to the growing role of private-sector partnerships in tackling Ghana’s healthcare challenges, particularly for patients whose access to specialised treatment is often constrained by financial difficulties.

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The Minister’s commendation followed remarks by the Medical Superintendent of the Kpandai Evangelical Church of Ghana Hospital, Dr Sonlaar Joseph, during the commissioning of the new facility.

Dr Sonlaar Joseph praised Dr Adu Gyamfi for her willingness to serve in Dambai despite the challenges associated with working in a developing area.

He noted that she accepted the opportunity without raising concerns about the distance from major cities such as Accra and Kumasi, accommodation challenges and other amenities often available to health professionals in urban areas.

According to him, her decision demonstrates a strong commitment to the healthcare profession and a willingness to serve communities where medical professionals are urgently needed.

Responding to the remarks, Mr Gyapong praised Dr Adu Gyamfi for accepting the posting and pledged the full support of the Oti Regional Coordinating Council as she begins her work at the facility.

He stressed that the willingness of health professionals to accept postings to underserved communities is essential to improving healthcare delivery across the Oti Region.

MP commends ECG for establishing hospital

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Krachi East, Nelson Kofi Djabab, has also commended the Evangelical Church of Ghana for establishing the hospital in Dambai.

Speaking in an interview with Adom News Correspondent, Odehyeba Owusu Job, the MP said the facility would significantly improve access to healthcare for residents of Dambai and surrounding communities.

He pledged his support, as well as that of relevant stakeholders in the constituency, to help the hospital secure the assistance required to operate effectively.

The establishment of the facility is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery in Dambai and reduce the difficulties residents face in accessing essential medical services, particularly those requiring immediate attention.

The exercise, which began in September 2026, aimed at marking World Rabies Month under the theme “Stronger Together” and supports Ghana’s goal of achieving zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.

According to the Department, vaccination will be provided free of charge throughout September 2026, after which the prescribed fees will apply.

The campaign will also include intensified public education on rabies prevention through schools, religious institutions, traditional and social media platforms, as well as community engagements.

The Veterinary Services Department has urged all pet owners to ensure that their dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies every year.

It has also advised the public to report animal bites or scratches immediately to the nearest health facility and notify the nearest veterinary centre about the animal involved.

The Department stressed that rabies is virtually 100 per cent fatal once symptoms develop, although the disease is preventable through timely vaccination.

Pet owners have therefore been reminded that failure to vaccinate a dog or cat may constitute an offence under applicable Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly (MMDA) bye-laws.

The Department is also calling on MMDAs, civil society organisations, religious and traditional authorities, development partners and private sector organisations to support the campaign with vaccines, logistics, public education and community mobilisation.

The nationwide exercise is expected to help increase vaccination coverage among domestic animals while strengthening public awareness and prevention efforts against rabies.

Known as the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER), the programme will focus on critical gaps in emergency referrals, transportation, staffing, blood supplies, medicines, essential medical equipment and health data.

Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang said PRIMER was designed to address challenges that individual health facilities could not tackle independently.

Speaking at the national launch of the initiative on Monday, September 14, 2026, she said the programme would bring together government agencies, local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

“PRIMER is to help address obstacles that no single health institution can remove, whether in financing, infrastructure, staffing, procurement, data or community mobilisation,” she said.

The Vice President explained that the initiative would strengthen coordination across the health sector while complementing programmes already being implemented by the government and its development partners.

PRIMER will operate around three key areas: political leadership and social mobilisation; institutional accountability and evidence-based interventions; and sustainable domestic financing supported by responsible external assistance.

The programme will also prioritise maternity and newborn care, referral and transport systems, access to blood and essential medicines, medical equipment, community participation and the effective use of health data.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the initiative would strengthen maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response systems, improve the quality and timeliness of health data, and clearly define institutional responsibilities.

She added that regular high-level reviews would be conducted to assess progress, while successful interventions from regions and health facilities performing well would be replicated in other parts of the country.

“PRIMER cannot succeed as a stand-alone programme nor duplicate the work already underway across government,” she cautioned.

The Vice President stressed that improving maternal survival required collaboration beyond the health sector because issues such as transportation, communication, water and energy also influence access to timely healthcare.

She therefore called on families and communities to support pregnant women to seek medical attention early, identify danger signs and obtain the necessary assistance during pregnancy and childbirth.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the success of PRIMER would ultimately be determined by the survival of mothers and their babies rather than simply the number of women who visit health facilities.

“It is not enough for many more women to enter our health facilities. They must return home safely with their babies to their families,” she said.

The government expects PRIMER to provide a coordinated national response to longstanding maternal and newborn health challenges as Ghana intensifies efforts to reduce preventable maternal deaths and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

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He said maternal survival should be treated as a key indicator of the effectiveness of the country’s healthcare system and its commitment to protecting women, families and future generations.

Dr Thompson made the call on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the national launch of the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER).

He said Ghana must move beyond accepting maternal deaths as an unavoidable consequence of childbirth and instead build a system that guarantees pregnant women timely, respectful and quality care.

“It is to build a system in which every pregnant woman can expect timely, respectful and high-quality care and in which preventable maternal deaths are treated as failures that demand learning, correction, and immediate action,” he said.

According to the NDPC Chairman, PRIMER comes at a time when Ghana’s progress in reducing maternal mortality remains slow, requiring sustained political commitment, stronger coordination and clear accountability.

He said President John Dramani Mahama had drawn attention to the issue during the launch of Ghana’s 2025 Voluntary National Review Report on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, describing the country’s stagnation in maternal health outcomes as unacceptable.

Dr Thompson stressed that maternal mortality was not solely a health-sector problem, arguing that factors such as transportation, public financing, infrastructure, education, social protection and household decision-making also influence maternal health outcomes.

“Maternal mortality cannot be reduced by the health sector alone,” he said.

He therefore called for a coordinated approach involving government institutions, health facilities, communities, civil society organisations, the private sector, traditional authorities and religious leaders.

Dr Thompson also urged leaders at all levels to take responsibility for maternal health outcomes, from central government through regional and district authorities to individual health facilities.

“Leadership must be demonstrated not only at the presidency or the Ministry of Health, but throughout government, in every region and district, within every health facility, and across all sectors whose decisions ultimately affect the health of women,” he stated.

He further encouraged traditional and religious leaders to help tackle misinformation, stigma and misconceptions that often prevent women from seeking timely medical attention.

He said communities must be equipped to identify pregnancy-related danger signs early and seek professional care promptly, while health facilities must have the capacity to respond effectively to emergencies.

Dr Thompson said the effectiveness of PRIMER would ultimately be measured by whether government commitments were backed by adequate funding, plans were implemented on time and institutions took responsibility for results.

He described maternal healthcare as an important component of Ghana’s human capital development, warning that avoidable maternal deaths have far-reaching consequences for families and the national economy.

“A country cannot realise its full human capital potential when women face avoidable risks in giving life, when families lose caregivers and income earners, and when children begin life without the care and security that their mothers provide,” he said.

The launch of PRIMER comes amid renewed calls for urgent action on Ghana’s maternal mortality situation, with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) also describing preventable maternal deaths as a systems failure requiring stronger accountability.

Dr Thompson said PRIMER should therefore usher in a sustained and coordinated national effort to ensure that women no longer lose their lives from preventable causes during childbirth.

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Regional Director for West and Central Africa at UNFPA, Dr Sennen Hounton, said the concentration of medical professionals in major cities was weakening efforts to improve maternal healthcare in deprived communities.

Speaking in Accra on Monday, September 14, at the national launch of the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response, Dr Hounton said many health workers were reluctant to accept postings outside the capital.

He noted that without additional motivation, professionals posted to remote areas would continue to seek opportunities to return to major cities such as Accra.

“It’s just so easier to stay in Accra than staying in Tamale,” he said, stressing the need to make postings to underserved areas more attractive.

Dr Hounton proposed the introduction of incentive packages for health workers who agree to serve in remote communities for extended periods.

He said such benefits could include additional allowances on top of regular salaries as well as opportunities for further education and professional development after completing their assignments.

“There must be incentive package for people we send to the remote area to stay there two, three, four years, five years. There must be something in return,” he stated.

According to him, existing civil service arrangements often do not provide sufficient motivation for health professionals to remain in deprived communities, resulting in workers looking for ways to return to urban centres.

He therefore urged governments across West and Central Africa to introduce formal bonding mechanisms that link service in difficult locations to tangible career and financial benefits.

“We are saying that we must, in all countries, have such bonding mechanism. I go there, but you give me, first, the salary you give me a top up as incentive. And secondly, maybe if I finish my tour of duty, I got a scholarship to do some certificate,” he said.

Dr Hounton said such measures would help countries retain skilled personnel in areas where their services are most needed and ultimately contribute to saving the lives of mothers and newborns.

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According to him, although the new facility is intended to provide quality and accessible healthcare to residents of Dambai and surrounding communities, it requires additional equipment to operate effectively and deliver comprehensive medical services.

Dr Sonlaar Joseph made the appeal in an interview with Adom News Correspondent, Odehyeba Owusu Job, following the commissioning of the new hospital.

He explained that the facility was established through a collective vision and commitment by staff of the Kpandai ECG Hospital, coupled with support from internally generated funds.

Dr Sonlaar Joseph disclosed that some staff members had to guarantee their payslips to secure loans to support the project, while funds generated internally by the Kpandai hospital were also channelled into the construction and establishment of the facility.

He said the various efforts, together with other forms of support, had resulted in an investment of more than GH¢6 million in the new hospital.

The facility has a total capacity of 70 beds and is expected to expand access to healthcare for residents of Dambai and communities within the surrounding areas.

Dr Sonlaar Joseph, therefore, called on organisations, philanthropists and individuals to come to the aid of the hospital with essential medical equipment.

He said such support would enable the facility to provide a wider range of healthcare services and respond effectively to the medical needs of the growing population in the area.

Traditional authority pledges support

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the commissioning ceremony and Paramount Chief of the Chunkey Traditional Area, Dasebre Nana Kwame Bonja, has commended the leadership of the Evangelical Church of Ghana for establishing the hospital in Dambai.

He said the facility would play an important role in improving access to quality healthcare for residents of Dambai and neighbouring communities.

Dasebre Nana Kwame Bonja assured the hospital’s management of the traditional authority’s support, noting that the doors of traditional leaders would remain open whenever their assistance was needed.

He, however, urged the management and staff of the facility to keep politics out of the hospital and ensure that all patients received equal and quality care regardless of their political affiliation.

The Paramount Chief also cautioned health workers against using mobile phones while attending to patients.

He stressed the importance of professionalism, courtesy and respect in the delivery of healthcare, urging staff to make patients feel valued and properly attended to.

The newly established 70-bed Evangelical Church of Ghana Hospital at Dambai is expected to complement existing healthcare facilities and improve access to quality medical care in the Oti Regional capital and surrounding communities.

It represents something far more precious: the chance to live.

A chance to return home to their parents. A chance to play with their friends, walk into a classroom, learn a vocation, pursue a dream and grow into the men and women they were born to become.

That is the human story behind the numbers for Dr Kow Entsua-Mensah, Head of the National Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, as he reflects on the first year of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.

More than 150 patients who otherwise faced enormous financial barriers to lifesaving cardiac treatment are being taken care of at the National Cardiothoracic Centre alone. About 110 of them are children.

For Dr. Entsua-Mensah, those figures raise a sobering question: What would have happened to these patients if the Fund did not exist?

Behind every number, he said, is a human being whose future could easily have been cut short simply because a family could not afford the cost of lifesaving treatment.

110 children, 110 futures

It is the children whose stories appear to resonate most deeply with the cardiothoracic surgeon.

For families confronted with the diagnosis of a serious heart condition in a child, the battle is often fought on two fronts; against the disease itself and against the financial cost of treatment.

The intervention of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund is changing that reality for scores of families.

Dr. Entsua-Mensah looks beyond the operations and hospital beds to the futures now being reclaimed.

These children, he believes, “will grow stronger, play with their peers, return to school, pursue education and vocational training and eventually contribute to Ghana’s development”.

And then comes the question that perhaps captures the significance of the intervention better than statistics ever could:

Who knows what these children will become?

Among them could be Ghana’s future doctors, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, artists and national leaders.

Without treatment, some of those possibilities could have disappeared before they ever had the opportunity to unfold.

From a devastating fire to more than 60 lives saved

The impact of the Trust Fund at the National Cardiothoracic Centre goes beyond paying for patients’ treatment.

In 2025, fire ravaged the Centre’s cardiac catheterisation laboratory;  a critical facility for diagnosing and treating complex heart conditions.

By the end of July 2026, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund had replaced the destroyed facility with a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation centre.

Since the new facility opened, more than 60 patients have undergone complex lifesaving procedures there, with many more patients lined up for treatment and emergency cases continuing to be managed.

During the Trust Fund’s initial 50-case pilot, designed to test its systems, 15 patients were sponsored to undergo lifesaving procedures at the National Cardiothoracic Centre.

Today, that intervention has expanded dramatically, with more than 150 patients onboarded for care at the Centre.

An investment in humanity

For Dr. Entsua-Mensah, the significance of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund cannot be measured only in cedis, equipment purchased or procedures performed.

It must also be measured in lives restored and hope returned to families.

“Adults whose illnesses had taken them away from their normal lives and livelihoods now have an opportunity to receive treatment and return to work. Children whose futures were threatened by serious heart conditions have an opportunity to grow and pursue their aspirations”, he added.

He describes the intervention as “a great investment in humanity”, an investment in the restoration of lives and, importantly, the restoration of hope.

Perhaps one of the Trust Fund’s most significant achievements, he observed, is the renewed confidence it is creating among ordinary families. The assurance that falling seriously ill does not necessarily mean a patient’s survival must depend solely on how much money that patient or family can raise.

Through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, he said, people can increasingly have confidence that the state has an instrument through which it can come to their aid when they face critical illness.

Taking lifesaving heart care closer to Ghanaians

The transformation Dr. Entsua-Mensah sees is not confined to Korle Bu.

He pointed to the development of cardiology centres at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi and Tamale Teaching Hospital as another important part of the emerging national cardiac-care network.

For decades, patients with complex cardiac conditions have had to travel considerable distances to Accra for specialised treatment at the National Cardiothoracic Centre.

The expansion of specialist cardiac infrastructure promises to change that.

Dr. Entsua-Mensah said the National Cardiothoracic Centre would be able to collaborate with its counterparts in Kumasi and Tamale, mentor and train professionals there and extend specialist services beyond Accra.

Ultimately, patients from those parts of the country would no longer necessarily have to travel to the capital for treatment.

Lifesaving cardiac care, he said, is being brought closer to the people.

And he believes Kumasi and Tamale could only be the beginning, with specialist services eventually extending to other parts of Ghana.

A dream beginning to unfold

One year into the existence of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Dr Entsua-Mensah believes something long imagined within Ghana’s specialist healthcare system is finally beginning to take shape.

“For the first time, what we have dreamt of, what we had hoped for is beginning to unfold right before our eyes.”

But perhaps the most compelling evidence of that unfolding dream will not be found in buildings, machines or statistics.

It will be found in a child returning to school after heart surgery.

In parents who once feared they might lose their child but can now watch that child run and play again.

In an adult returning to work after illness threatened a family’s livelihood.

And in the more than 110 children currently being given something no amount of money can truly measure, another chance at life and the opportunity to become whatever their dreams allow them to be.

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Angelina is receiving treatment at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital following the August 13, 2026 crash, which claimed 12 lives and injured several others.

The accident, involving multiple vehicles, was reportedly triggered after a tricycle rider was knocked down, leading to a chain collision.

Angelina survived the crash but suffered life-changing injuries and lost both legs.

Her family has also kept her father’s death from her as she continues to recover.

The tragedy came just six months after the death of her mother.

Before the crash, Angelina was focused on school, her favourite subjects and her dreams for the future.

Now, her biggest wish is to heal and return to school.

In an emotional appeal, Angelina called for help as she continues to endure pain at the hospital.

“I need you guys to help me. Right now my stomach is paining me… I am suffering in this hospital. You guys need to help us.”

Her brother, John Stickings, says the family has been overwhelmed by the cost of her treatment.

He says about GH¢200 million has been spent on Angelina’s medical care, while the family is now raising funds for prosthetic limbs to help her walk again.

John is also appealing to the government and other well-meaning individuals to support Angelina’s recovery.

“We are preparing to do the leg, because sometimes she complains that she wants to go to school again. We need the government to support us. Any support to make my sister walk again.”

Meanwhile, the National Road Safety Authority’s Senior Planning Manager at the Greater Accra Office, Felix Owusu, says police investigations into the crash are still ongoing.

According to him, the driver of the tipper truck believed to have caused the crash initially fled the scene but has since been arrested and is assisting with investigations.

Owusu also reminded motorists that although the law permits higher speed limits on highways and motorways, passenger-carrying vehicles are subject to a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

He appealed to non-governmental organizations, civil society groups and philanthropists to support Angelina and other survivors with financial and psychological assistance. He said such support would help survivors cope with their trauma and reintegrate into society.

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Dr John Nana Nkrumah, a Senior Specialist at the GPHA Clinic and International Maritime Hospital, said although research has looked at a possible link between ejaculation and prostate cancer, the findings do not provide enough grounds to recommend a specific frequency of sexual activity as protection against the disease.

He explained that such research had only examined different forms of ejaculation, including sexual intercourse, masturbation and wet dreams noting that the findings needed to be weighed alongside other risk factors and the studies’ methodology, instead of interpreting it as a prescription for a set number of ejaculations.

Dr Nkrumah who was speaking at a media discussion on prostate cancer awareness organised by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) said it would be inappropriate to tell men, particularly young people, that they needed to ejaculate a specified number of times each month to prevent prostate cancer.

He also mentioned that wet dreams are involuntary, making them impossible to regulate as a preventive measure.

He added that thought the research could be acknowledged, he could not recommend the practice as a prevention strategy for prostate cancer due to its limitations.

On the question of men whose professions or religious commitments involve celibacy, he maintained that the available findings do not support the idea that abstaining from regular sexual activity would necessarily lead to prostate cancer. He urged men to instead focus on established screening and risk factors and to seek medical advice early.

Turning to treatment, Dr Nkrumah said some prostate cancer therapies could affect sexual potency, particularly those that lower testosterone levels to control advanced or metastatic disease.

He explained that testosterone production could be reduced either medically or surgically, including through removal of the testicles, and that lowering the hormone could in turn reduce sexual drive and potency.

The urologist said concerns about the risk of impotence during treatment were valid, but stressed that the side effects of treating advanced prostate cancer make early detection important, since earlier-stage treatment offers a better chance of a cure and avoids progression to advanced disease.

Her comments come ahead of the launch of the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER) on Monday, September 14.

Welcoming the initiative in a social media post, Akosua Manu, popularly known as Kozie, said the scale of the crisis requires more than announcements.

“This is an important step, and I welcome it. The scale and persistence of preventable maternal deaths require a response that is comprehensive, evidence-based and sustained,” she said.

Referencing a three-year study conducted at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital between January 2021 and December 2023, and published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, she cited a maternal mortality ratio of 801 deaths per 100,000 live births recorded at the facility over the period.

“This is a gap that reflects the urgent need to strengthen our emergency obstetric care and maternal health systems,” she said.

Kozie also renewed her call for a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into preventable maternal deaths, saying it could help identify systemic gaps and strengthen accountability.

“The response to this crisis must be national in scope and bipartisan in spirit,” she added.

She said the New Patriotic Party would support credible initiatives that advance the health, dignity and wellbeing of women and children.

“Our collective goal must be clear: no woman should die while giving life, and no child should lose a mother to a preventable cause.”

The initiative is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery at the community level and improve access to essential medical services.

Speaking at a community durbar at the Fian Health Centre in the Daffiama Bussie Issa District of the Upper West Region on Friday, September 11, Mr Akandoh said 5,000 healthcare bags equipped with essential medical supplies had already been distributed to health workers.

He said an additional 5,000 healthcare bags would be supplied in the coming weeks, together with 7,000 motorbikes and tricycles to improve the ability of health professionals to reach residents in underserved communities.

According to the Minister, the logistics would enable health workers to take healthcare services directly to people in their homes, churches, mosques and other community settings.

He explained that the community-based approach would place greater emphasis on disease prevention and early detection, rather than waiting for patients to report to hospitals after becoming seriously ill.

Mr Akandoh said health workers would conduct screening for conditions such as hypertension and high blood sugar, while persons requiring further medical attention would be referred to the appropriate health facilities.

He said the strategy was part of efforts to transform Ghana’s healthcare system from one that is largely hospital-centred to a model that begins at the community level.

The Minister also reiterated that the Free Primary Healthcare programme would provide free services at CHPS compounds, health centres and polyclinics.

The services will cover the management of common ailments, including malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections, as the government seeks to make basic healthcare more accessible to residents.

The donation is intended as an upgrade of the cardiopulmonary bypass system needed to undertake open-heart surgeries, thereby enhancing patient care at the NCTC.

Speaking on the motivation behind the gesture, the Chief Executive of Quantum LC, Dr. Joseph Titus Glover, highlighted their ongoing commitment to supporting vital medical services at the Centre.

“Whenever our good friend needs something, we try and support. We just donated a heater-cooler equipment used to support heart surgeries, and we are happy we show this kind of gesture to the National Cardiothoracic Centre.”

Accepting the donation, Director of the Cardio Centre, Dr. Kow Entsua-Mensah, expressed profound appreciation for the timely intervention, highlighting the long-standing ties with Quantum LC/WBHO Ltd.

“For my part, I want to say a sincere thank you to Quantum LC /WHBO. Ltd. This gesture is an extension of the friendship forged during our days at Achimota School, which has blossomed today to the benefit of the many patients who need heart surgery.”

The newly acquired state-of-the-art apparatus replaces an older generation equipment being used at the Centre, significantly upgrading operational efficiency during critical cardiovascular procedures.

Reinforcing his commitment to the partnership, Dr. Entsua-Mensah stated that the collaboration between the sister institutions will deepen as they explore new areas of collaboration.

This donation comes on the backdrop of a recent medical outreach by staff of the Cardio Centre to the mining operations of Quantum LC/WBHO. Cardiac-related services were offered to workers as well as residents in the catchment area of their mining operations.

“In the coming years, we as partners want to re-double our collaborative efforts to the greater benefit of Ghanaian heart patients”, Dr. Entsua-Mensah concluded.