Single life appears to be an option to the challenges of life.

Single life is on the increase everywhere and across social groups. In fact, globally, the proportion of those living single lives has doubled over the last 20 years.

This is particularly worrying in Ghana, where marriage is seen as a sacred duty and the focus of life.

Why single life?

Many are single due to circumstances beyond their control. The cost of living is high and many cannot afford marriage rites, accommodation, and family care.

Some are single out of convenience. They put careers and other things ahead of marriage. For them, all that matters is cash.

Some have endured painful relationships and have become afraid of future failures. Some are selfish. They have worked for their money and would not allow anyone to share or possibly take over what they have earned.

Some have inborn problems. They are trapped in the wrong bodies and seek love from people of the same sex. Others have emotional problems that make it hard for them to desire sex or relate to the opposite sex.

Some claim they don’t meet suitable lovers. They are selective and draw tough conditions for suitable partners. They simply have a poor understanding of marriage.

Why does single life appear good

You have freedom and independence. You need not make mutual decisions or put up with behaviours you find unacceptable. You can, therefore, stabilise your emotions.

You have the opportunity to utilise your talents and skills fully. This may explain why most very successful women are single.

Today, people claim they can get sex, children, domestic care, financial support, and everything marriage offers without marrying.

If they can get free milk, they will not buy a cow and worry about its maintenance.

Why is single life bad?

Single life has loneliness. In fact, the only thing God said was not good in His creation was loneliness. It is, therefore, not good for man to be alone.

There are things only a man can do best,, and there are some things a woman can do best. A man is expected to use his abilities to cover a woman and a woman to cover a man, for an enhanced quality of life.

Completeness and self-sufficiency will, therefore, always remain a myth.

Single life lacks emotional support. The thought that you are one flesh with another gives great mental stability.

On the other hand, single life reduces commitment and makes you self-centred.

Single life gives a bad social image. In Ghana, every adult is expected to marry, and those who don’t are seen as irresponsible and not worthy of social recognition.

Sugya ni”, the Akan phrase for a bachelor, means a man who fetches fire for cooking. Cooking is traditionally reserved for women, and “Sugya ni” does not earn much respect.

What to do

If you are single, desire to marry. Nothing will come to you except what you put in your mind.

Fortunately, there has never been a lack of relationships, and studies show that people can find partners more easily than they think.

Love yourself and have self-confidence. Go out very often and do everything with passion. Love all who come to you and smile to let people know you are easy to get along with. 

Don’t cling to yourself or act desperate. Don’t look for love. Love will find you as you live your life to the fullest.

If you are married, make every effort to stay married. Remember that every marriage has its moments of difficulty. The fact that you have problems does not mean there is something wrong with your marriage. 

You are only being human. Angels don’t marry; it is, therefore, impossible to have a trouble-free marriage. You only need to keep working on your marriage to make it work. 

Never make divorce an option. It has never been a solution but a problem. Every marriage can be restored.

Single life can never be fashionable. Human beings were made for relationships. God has made marriage a permanent feature of all human society because of its amazing benefits. Married couples are emotionally and physically healthier. 

They live longer and have higher levels of happiness. Married couples have greater wealth because sharing creates wealth.

It’s God’s desire that you marry, except when you dedicate yourself in a special way to serve God and humanity. Never stay out of marriage out of resentment, fear, selfishness, or inordinate ambition. A man will always need a woman. 

A woman will always need a man. Two are always better than one. God says he who finds a wife finds a good thing and receives favour from Him.

God says it is not good to be alone. Believe Him. So say no to single life. It is only marriage that will give true love, a stronger family, and a happy nation.

The exercise will provide free medication for onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and schistosomiasis (bilharzia) in affected communities across the country.

Speaking at a media briefing in Accra, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director General, GHS, said the campaign formed part of Ghana’s strategy to eliminate NTDs as a public health threat by 2030 and sustain gains made in disease control over the years.

He said the campaign would cover 86 onchocerciasis-endemic districts in 15 regions, while about 266,000 people in two elephantiasis-endemic districts would receive treatment.

Community deworming against schistosomiasis would also be carried out in 13 districts across eight regions.

Dr. Akoriyea said except for children under five years, pregnant women and individuals who had previously experienced severe reactions to the medicines, all eligible persons in targeted communities are expected to participate in the exercise.

“Mass Drug Administration remains one of the most effective interventions for controlling and eliminating neglected tropical diseases. The medicines have been recommended by the World Health Organization and are safe, effective and essential in protecting communities from river blindness, elephantiasis and bilharzia,” he said.

He urged residents in affected communities to cooperate with health workers and adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen.

“Please take the medicines as directed and encourage others to do the same. Together, we can protect our communities, improve health outcomes and eliminate these diseases from Ghana,” he said.

The NTD Programme Manager, GHS, Dr. Joseph Larbi Opare, said Ghana had made remarkable progress in the fight against neglected tropical diseases and remained on track to achieve the World Health Organization’s 2030 elimination targets.

He said the transmission of lymphatic filariasis had been interrupted in 114 of the country’s 117 endemic districts, leaving only three districts yet to attain elimination status.

Dr. Opare said the number of onchocerciasis-endemic districts had reduced significantly over the years, while schistosomiasis was nearing elimination in several areas.

He highlighted Ghana’s achievements in eliminating other neglected tropical diseases, noting that the country was certified free of guinea worm disease in 2015, eliminated trachoma as a public health problem in 2018, and successfully eliminated human African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem in 2023.

“We are making steady progress and remain hopeful of achieving our elimination targets by 2030,” he said.

Mr Solomon Ananya NTD Project Manager for World Vision Ghana, expressed concern over declining donor support for NTD programmes and called for increased domestic financing to sustain elimination efforts.

“The funding landscape is changing, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure resources for NTD programmes. We appeal to the Government to increase domestic investment in the fight against these diseases,” he said.

Mr. Ananya said efforts were underway to establish a National NTD Fund to mobilize resources from government institutions, private sector organizations, banks, telecommunications companies and other corporate bodies through their corporate social responsibility initiatives.

He expressed optimism that the fund would help bridge emerging financing gaps and sustain Ghana’s progress towards eliminating neglected tropical diseases.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of preventable and treatable infectious diseases that primarily affect impoverished and underserved communities, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.

They are caused by a variety of parasites, bacteria and viruses and can lead to severe disability, chronic illness, disfigurement and social stigma if left untreated.

Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, is transmitted through the bites of infected black-flies and can cause severe itching, skin disease and permanent blindness.

Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, damages the lymphatic system and can result in painful swelling of the limbs and other parts of the body.

Schistosomiasis, or bilharzia, is caused by parasitic worms found in contaminated freshwater and can affect the urinary tract, intestines and other organs.

According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people worldwide are affected by neglected tropical diseases, making them a significant public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

It says mass drug administration remains one of the key strategies for preventing transmission and achieving elimination targets.

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However, it warned that more resources are urgently needed to strengthen prevention measures and expand treatment capacity as the situation worsens in the conflict-hit region.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, June 18, as part of activities marking World Sickle Cell Day, Mr Acquah called for intensified public education, screening, and support services to help address the disease.

He described sickle cell disease as a devastating genetic condition that continues to affect the health and livelihoods of many individuals and families across the country.

“Sickle cell disease is a catastrophic genetic blood disorder that kills, maims, and impoverishes affected individuals and families,” he stated.

According to him, the high number of carriers in the population underscores the importance of awareness and early screening, particularly among couples and prospective parents.

“About eight million Ghanaians are carriers of an abnormal haemoglobin gene called the sickle cell gene. Here on the floor of Parliament, every fourth person may be a carrier with the potential of passing the gene to our unborn children,” he said.

Mr Acquah further disclosed that approximately two out of every 100 babies born in Ghana are diagnosed with sickle cell disease.

The legislator stressed the need for greater national attention to the condition, noting that early detection and proper management can significantly improve the quality of life of affected persons.

He called on government, healthcare institutions, civil society organisations, and the public to work together to strengthen education and screening programmes as part of efforts to reduce the prevalence and impact of the disease in Ghana.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects the shape and function of red blood cells, often leading to severe pain crises, chronic anaemia, increased susceptibility to infections, and other potentially life-threatening complications.

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The Presiding Member of the Ho West District Assembly, Kasim Osman Adamu, believes local vaccine production could become a game-changer in restoring confidence in vaccination programmes and encouraging wider public acceptance of life-saving immunisation interventions.

His comments come as Ghana intensifies efforts to produce its first locally manufactured vaccine by the first quarter of 2027 through a partnership involving the Ghana National Vaccine Institute (GNVI), the World Health Organization (WHO), local pharmaceutical companies, and development partners under the PharmaVax Ghana Programme.

According to Hon. Adamu, although imported vaccines have played a critical role in protecting Ghanaians against infectious diseases over the years, many citizens continue to harbour doubts about products developed and manufactured outside the country.

He noted that public mistrust, fuelled by misinformation and conspiracy theories, remains one of the biggest obstacles to vaccine acceptance in many communities.

“Many people have confidence in our healthcare professionals, scientists and researchers. When vaccines are produced here in Ghana, people will be more assured that adequate research, testing and quality checks have been carried out before they are administered to the public,” he said in an interview.

The Ho West Presiding Member observed that while vaccine hesitancy is a global challenge, concerns among some Ghanaians often stem from misconceptions about the intentions behind vaccines imported from foreign countries.

He said narratives suggesting that certain vaccines are designed to harm Africans or reduce fertility rates continue to circulate in some communities despite the absence of scientific evidence to support such claims.

“Some people discourage others from taking vaccines because they do not trust products that come from outside the country. These misconceptions continue to influence public attitudes and affect vaccine uptake,” he explained.

Hon. Adamu argued that local vaccine manufacturing could help address such concerns by giving citizens a greater sense of ownership and confidence in the country’s healthcare interventions.

He further stated that Ghana possesses the human resource capacity needed to undertake vaccine research, development and production, citing the country’s highly trained healthcare professionals and scientists.

According to him, the move towards vaccine sovereignty represents a significant opportunity for Ghana to strengthen its healthcare system, reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, and improve national preparedness for future disease outbreaks and health emergencies.

Beyond local production, Hon. Adamu stressed the need for sustained public education and community engagement to address fears and misinformation that often accompany vaccination campaigns.

He observed that rumours tend to flourish when people are not adequately informed about the purpose, safety, and benefits of vaccines.

“The major challenge is that enough education is sometimes not provided before vaccines are introduced into communities. When people do not fully understand why a vaccine is being administered, misinformation spreads easily,” he noted.

The Presiding Member called on health authorities, community leaders, and the media to intensify sensitisation efforts and ensure that accurate information reaches the public before and during vaccine rollouts.

He particularly highlighted the role of healthcare professionals as trusted sources of information capable of helping citizens make informed decisions.

“If anyone wants clarification on vaccines, the first point of contact should be a health worker because they have the expertise and knowledge to provide the right information,” he said.

Hon. Adamu also praised the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) for its regulatory oversight role and expressed confidence in the institution’s ability to ensure that any vaccines produced locally meet internationally accepted safety and quality standards.

He noted that the FDA’s stringent approval and monitoring processes provide an additional layer of assurance for the public.

While acknowledging the progress made in expanding vaccine access across the country through community outreach programmes and household visits by healthcare workers, he maintained that trust remains the missing link in achieving optimal vaccine coverage.

He therefore urged government and stakeholders involved in the local vaccine manufacturing agenda to remain committed to the initiative despite potential challenges.

According to him, the combination of local production, effective regulation, and continuous public education could significantly improve public confidence in vaccines and strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system.

“I want to encourage government and all agencies involved to continue their efforts. With education, community engagement and sensitisation, our people will accept locally manufactured vaccines and support their use,” he stated.

As Ghana moves closer to producing its first home-grown vaccine, Hon. Adamu believes the initiative has the potential to become a landmark achievement in the country’s public health history—one that not only reduces dependence on imports but also helps rebuild public trust in vaccines at a time when misinformation remains a growing threat to health interventions worldwide.

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The meeting provided a platform for both institutions to review the impact of the programme since its introduction, with indications that several patients have benefited from financial support that enabled them to access life-saving treatments they otherwise could not afford.

Discussions also focused on challenges encountered during the pilot phase, including operational bottlenecks, eligibility verification processes, communication gaps, and the disbursement of funds to beneficiaries.

The Ghana Medical Trust Fund team, led by its Administrator, Mrs. Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, engaged KBTH management, led by Chief Executive Dr. Yakubu Seidu Adam, to explore practical solutions aimed at strengthening implementation and improving efficiency.

Both sides agreed on the need to streamline processes and enhance coordination to ensure smoother delivery of support to patients in need.

The engagement reaffirmed the shared commitment of the two institutions to reducing financial barriers to healthcare access.

Stakeholders expressed optimism that lessons from the pilot phase will inform a full-scale rollout of the programme later in the year, with the potential to expand access to critical medical care for more patients nationwide.

The exercise formed part of a community dialogue on social protection and other social issues being organised by the Ministry’s Social Protection Directorate across selected communities in northern Ghana.

The free registration and renewal exercise, held on June 15, 2026, sought to extend healthcare access to vulnerable members of society while raising awareness about key social challenges affecting communities.

Addressing participants, the Director of Social Protection at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and a board member of the NHIA, Francisca Atuluk, urged young people to stay away from illicit drug use, teenage pregnancy and other social vices that could negatively affect their education and future prospects.

She also called on traditional authorities, parents, teachers, assembly members and government institutions to work together to tackle issues such as drug abuse, domestic violence, child marriage and other challenges that continue to make families and communities vulnerable.

The dialogue featured presentations from officials of the Ministry and the Nanton District Assembly on the dangers of substance abuse, domestic violence, child marriage, human trafficking, teenage pregnancy and available social protection interventions.

Officials from the NHIA’s regional and district offices also used the occasion to educate residents on the newly introduced One-Time Attendance Code (OTAC), which is designed to strengthen patient authentication at health facilities and improve the integrity of claims submitted by healthcare providers.

Community members and opinion leaders who participated in the dialogue agreed on the need for collective action to address social problems that hinder development and peaceful coexistence.

The event was chaired by the Kpan Naa, Naa Abukari Andani, and attended by other traditional leaders, including the Sahakpal Naa, Naa Yakubu Zakaria, the Tampion Naa and the Nyeko Naa, whose presence added colour and significance to the programme.

The nationwide public health intervention, scheduled to run from June 20 to July 3, 2026, will involve the distribution of safe and effective medicines in affected communities across the country. It forms part of efforts to eliminate the diseases as public health threats by 2030.

Speaking at the launch, the Director of the Public Health Division of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, described the campaign as a significant milestone in the country’s disease elimination agenda.

He stressed the importance of media support in educating the public, mobilising communities, and encouraging widespread participation in the exercise.

Officially launching the campaign, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, noted that although the targeted diseases are preventable and treatable, they continue to cause disability, social stigma, and economic hardship for many affected families.

He said the campaign would target approximately 6.7 million people across 86 districts in 15 regions for the treatment and prevention of river blindness.

For lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, Dr. Akoriyea revealed that transmission has already been interrupted in 114 of the country’s 117 endemic districts.

He said this year’s intervention would focus on the remaining two endemic districts, with about 266,000 people expected to benefit.

To combat bilharzia, community deworming exercises will be conducted in 13 districts across eight regions, targeting more than one million people.

The initiative will be complemented by measures to improve water, sanitation, hygiene and environmental management.

Representatives of international and local health partners also pledged their continued support for the campaign.

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted mass drug administration and school-based deworming programmes as proven strategies for reducing the long-term health effects of neglected tropical diseases.

Meanwhile, Sightsavers commended Ghana for its achievements in the fight against NTDs, noting that trachoma has been eliminated as a public health problem and cases of river blindness have significantly declined.

Medicines Development for Global Health (MDGH) also praised Ghana’s efforts, describing the country as a global leader in NTD control and the first to implement moxidectin, a newly developed medicine designed to accelerate the elimination of river blindness.

Health authorities are urging residents in affected communities to fully participate in the campaign to help Ghana achieve its goal of eliminating neglected tropical diseases by 2030.

In a statement signed by Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Co-Chair of the NPP Policy Committee on Health on June 16, the NPP said official records from the Ministry of Defence’s Project Implementation Unit show that the core hospital facility was 92.5 per cent complete as of September 2024 and had reached 98 per cent completion by January 2025.

The statement follows recent public comments, including remarks attributed to senior members of the party, regarding the status of the 500-bed hospital project in the Ashanti Region.

According to the NPP, suggestions that the hospital is only about 60 per cent complete are inaccurate.

“The Afari Military Hospital is a 500-bed facility, and it is not at a partial stage of construction,” the statement said.

The party explained that as of September 2024, civil works on the core hospital stood at 97.5% completion, architectural works at 87%, staff housing at 77%, roads at 80% and landscaping at 77%.

It argued that what remains is the completion of a relatively small portion of the project rather than a major new construction effort.

Addressing concerns over funding, the NPP also disputed claims that an additional US$85 million is needed before work can resume.

According to the party, there is no record at either the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Defence supporting such a figure.

The statement noted that the original US$180 million contract, financed through a loan arrangement, has been fully paid. It further stated that an additional US$19.3 million paid by the Government of Ghana to cover relocation-related delays has also been settled in full.

The NPP added that a separate claim, originally exceeding US$6.5 million and later negotiated down to US$3 million, has largely been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of US$500,000.

Providing a historical account of the project, the party said construction began at Sotoline in Kumasi in 2008 before being relocated to Afari. Physical construction commenced in 2014 and stood at approximately 40% completion by December 2016.

According to the statement, between 2017 and January 2025, progress advanced from about 40 per cent to 98%, indicating that the majority of work was undertaken during that period.

The NPP said it supports the completion and operationalisation of the hospital and urged the government to settle the remaining obligations and bring the facility into service.

“The outstanding US$500,000 should be settled, the remaining works completed, and any new figure presented for payment supported by verifiable records before public funds are committed,” the party stated.

The statement also cautioned senior party members to ensure that public comments on the project reflect the party’s documented position and are based on verifiable facts.

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“I am under oath of secrecy and therefore I can’t disclose what I discuss at Cabinet with the President here,” the Minister stated.

His response came after the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Local Government and Decentralisation Committee, Francis Asenso-Boakye, urged him to support a possible reallocation of funds towards the completion of the Agenda 111 hospital projects instead of investing in the 24-hour market initiative.

The Minister’s remarks immediately sparked reactions from Minority Members, who described the response as unfortunate and inconsistent with the principles of parliamentary accountability.

The exchange was triggered when Asenso-Boakye, in a supplementary question, appealed to the Health Minister to make a case to President John Dramani Mahama for funds earmarked for the 24-hour market project to be redirected towards the unfinished hospitals.

He argued that several districts across the country already have functioning markets and do not necessarily require new ones at this time.

“Can the Minister make a case to the President to consider using the funds to invest in the Agenda 111 healthcare projects rather than duplicating market infrastructure?” he asked.

According to him, healthcare delivery should be a greater priority, especially at a time when many Agenda 111 facilities remain incomplete and several communities continue to face challenges in accessing quality health services.

However, the Minister’s response drew immediate criticism from the Minority, who insisted that Parliament has the constitutional authority to demand clear answers on matters of public policy and public expenditure.

Minority Leader and other former ministers argued that ministers appearing before Parliament are duty-bound to account to the House and cannot rely on Cabinet confidentiality to avoid responding to policy-related questions.

Former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, also intervened, stating that under Parliament’s Standing Orders, ministers are obligated to answer questions and cannot hide behind what he described as “Cabinet secrecy.”

He described the Minister’s reference to an “oath of secrecy” as misplaced in the context of parliamentary oversight and called on him to withdraw the statement and apologise to the House.

Beyond the procedural disagreement, the exchange has revived the broader national debate over government spending priorities.

With many Ghanaians calling for the swift completion of Agenda 111 hospitals, critics argue that healthcare infrastructure should take precedence over new market developments, particularly in districts where market facilities already exist.

Asenso-Boakye maintained that his concerns were practical rather than political, insisting that investing in healthcare would deliver more immediate and direct benefits to citizens than duplicating market infrastructure.

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More than two years into the initiative, tens of millions of cedis have been raised through donations from state agencies, private companies, MPs, Ministers of State, the then Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and other private individuals, religious and other groups.

About GH¢50 million of the money raised has been spent on the project. About GH¢13 million is still owed to contractors, an amount the committee said they had yet to validate.

But when the board and management of the KATH sought accountability from the implementers and asked that the project be handed over to KATH, the chairman of the HeKAP Committee told them they had no authority to make such demands.

Months of our investigation, as well as information contained in an audit of the project, reveal serious irregularities that have the potential to undermine “donors’ trust and confidence,” as observed by the auditors.

The issues range from procurement issues to missing pages in the donors’ receipt books to a tussle over the ownership of the project, which some individuals say is their private initiative, not that of KATH.

The donations to HeKAP and the implementation of the project are managed by Heal Komfo Anokye Hospital Foundation. According to information at the Registrar of Companies, the directors of Heal Komfo Anokye Hospital Foundation are Samuel Adu Boakye, a journalist with Kumasi-based Kessben FM, and Kojo Darko Asante, a chief architect at the Public Works Department in the Ashanti Region.

The two directors and the company are not linked to Komfo Anokye Hospital and have not been authorised by the hospital’s board and management to run HeKAP or receive donations on KATH’s behalf.

Auditors of the project have observed that during their audit, “no Memorandum of Understanding between Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Heal Komfo Anokye Project was seen.”

In the absence of a memorandum, the auditors observed that “the legal and operational activities and structure of HeKAP remained unclear” and the “ownership of properties and exchange of sensitive information could not be controlled.”

 Samuel Adu Boakye told me in an interview that the CEO of KATH at the time of registering HeKAF, Professor Addai-Mensah, was not aware that he had registered HeKAP as a private company.

He said, “At some point, he was even angry, [and asked], how did I register this thing and didn’t tell him? I said, ‘Look, you’re the CEO of Komfo Anokye, and I am the chairman of Heal Komfo Anokye, how do I come and tell you to be part of it?’ That would amount to something else.”

Despite this claim that Professor Addai-Mensah did not know about the registration of the company because of his position as CEO of KATH, he is captured by auditors as a signatory to HeKAP’s bank accounts.

According to the auditors, there was a resolution to open Prudential Bank account on 6^th February, 2024, with the Santasi Roundabout Branch, Kumasi. The authorisations to open the other accounts were not seen.

The signatories to the accounts were as follows;

Heal Komfo Anokye Hospital Foundation is registered as a private company limited by guarantee, with its principal activity and object of the company stated as “Raising funds to support Okomfo Anokye Hospital.”

HeKAP was officially launched on November 10, 2023, meaning that Komfo Anokye Hospital Foundation, which was registered to run the Heal Komfo Anokye Project, was incorporated four months after the project’s launch.

The immediate past CEO of KATH, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, said that the registration was needed to create bank accounts for HeKAP. However, there is evidence that multiple bank accounts were opened in the name of HeKAP and donations were being collected four months before the private company owning those accounts was registered.

For instance, the official Heal Komfo Anokye Facebook page posted a flyer on November 13, 2023, three days after the launch of HeKAP, advertising the bank accounts into which donations to the project should be made. This was before the company was registered on March 25, 2024, raising questions about how the banks opened accounts for a company that did not yet exist.

In my interview with him, Prof. Addai-Mensah said that before the company was incorporated, Fidelity Bank was holding the donations. Asked how it was possible for the bank to keep money when there was no account, he said that the question should be directed to the bank.

He said KATH already had accounts with Fidelity Bank, but the decision not to open a HeKAP account in KATH’s name or tie its operations to the hospital was due to the “laborious” requirements of the Public Procurement Act and the Public Finance Management Act, which could delay the project’s implementation.

“We won’t account or hand over to KATH”

In July 2025, the Board of KATH wrote to the managers of HeKAP, requiring accountability and handing over of the project to the CEO of KATH. In a response dated July 8, 2025, the Chairman of the HeKAP Committee, Samuel Adu Boakye, said “the Heal Komfo Anokye Project (HeKAP) was launched and is being implemented by the Heal Komfo Anokye Hosptial Foundation, a private corporate entity with the active support of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.”

Mr Adu Boakye further stated that “HeKAP has never been a KATH-initiated project, even though  KATH is the beneficiary of its activities, and that KATH, as an institution or through any of its officers, has never been part of the corporate entity.”

He added that “the HeKAP committee has never been a committee of KATH set up by the management and/or the Board of Directors.”

A request for comment sent to the Manhyia Palace about the alleged support of Otumfuo and whether the Asantehene was aware of the private registration of the project, which he has passionately canvassed support for, is yet to receive a response, as the Asantehene is currently out of the country.

However, a source close to Manhyia Palace has said Otumfuo requested an audit of HeKAP’s operations. The audit was submitted to the palace three weeks ago, and sources close to the Manhyia say Otumfuo is scheduled to meet with the HeKAP committee and stakeholders upon his return to Ghana to discuss the audit findings and the way forward for the project.

Is HeKAP a private initiative or a KATH-initiated project?

The refusal to hand over HeKAP to the management of Komfo Anokye is based on the argument that the project is a private initiative. When I interviewed Samuel Adu Boakye for this story, he stated that the Heal Komfo Anokye project was his initiative.

“This is not a project of the hospital,” he said. “I initiated the project. However, in corporate governance, the CEO [of KATH] had to own it…He also takes it as his baby.”

Samuel Adu Boakye’s claim that he initiated HeKAP has been refuted by multiple sources. The immediate past CEO of KATH, Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah, supports Samuel Adu Boakye’s position to register the project as a private entity. But even he told me in an interview that the project was a vision he had nurtured before he was appointed the CEO of KATH and set in motion immediately after his appointment, contradicting Samuel Adu Boakye’s claim that the initiative did not originate from KATH.

During this investigation, three versions of the origins of HeKAP emerged, with most sources pointing to officials of KATH as the project’s initiators.

The first account, backed by Dr K.K. Sarpong

Multiple sources have said the current CEO of KATH, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, was the initial brain behind HeKAP. Dr Baidoo, the sources said, had successfully raised funds to renovate the trauma centre when he was its head. He then sold the idea of expanding the initiative to cover the wider hospital to the CEO, Professor Addai-Mensah, who bought into it.

Two sources familiar with the project, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said one of the first people the KATH management approached about Dr Baidoo’s idea was Dr K.K. Sarpong, the former CEO of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).  

Professor Addai-Mensah has confirmed that, as KATH CEO, he met Dr K.K. Sarpong together with Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo (the current KATH CEO), Kwame Frimpong (the KATH PRO), and Dr Frankie, a medical doctor at KATH.

Asked when this meeting took place, Professor Addai-Mensah said he did not remember the date, but he remembered the persons with whom he met Dr K.K. Sarpong, all of whom were KATH officials.

Dr K.K. Sarpong confirmed that some management members of KATH approached him about the project.

“They were about four of them,” Dr K.K. Sarpong recalled. “They came with a concept and requested that I help them to raise funds. I reviewed what they had and said I didn’t think it would make a bigger impact.”

He said he advised them to involve Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, whose influence, he believed, would yield a much bigger impact. Dr Sarpong said he also advised them to consider pitching the initiative as Otumfuo’s 25^th anniversary legacy project.

After that meeting, Dr K.K. Sarpong said he was not involved in the project’s activities and did not know how much was raised or spent. Being involved in the initial discussions, however, he said he would be surprised to hear that HeKAP was owned by private people.

“I don’t think that any private individual can claim it. I’ll be surprised, unless they [KATH management] told different people different stories, he said. “At the meeting, they said it was for them.”

Professor Addai-Mensah’s side

Professor Addai-Mensah described himself as the “visioner” of HeKAP. He said that shortly after his appointment as KATH’s CEO, the Asantehene visited an important dignitary who was admitted to the hospital, so he (Professor Addai-Mensah) raised the issue of KATH’s deplorable infrastructure with him. Otumfuo, he said, readily expressed his own concerns and set up a meeting to discuss the way forward. Dr Addai-Mensah said the Asantehene encouraged him during that meeting to proceed by drafting a concept note.

On his second visit to Otumfuo to discuss the initiative, Professor Addai-Mensah said he went with Samuel Adu Boakye, a journalist. He said that before they shared their plan, Otumfuo had already laid out in detail what they could do.

“The only thing we added was that we wanted to tie the project to his 25th anniversary celebration,” Samuel Adu Boakye said.

Two more persons were brought on board to flesh out the initiative, and they worked with them until a committee was set up and inaugurated by the Asantehene to begin the project.

Samuel Adu Boakye’s angle

Samuel Adu Boakye, who also claims ownership of the HeKAP initiative, said his involvement began with the meeting he and Professor Addai-Mensah had with Otumfuo. This was after the KATH CEO had already met the Asantehene on the subject.

Samuel Adu Boakye said since that meeting, he spearheaded the project and used Professor Addai-Mensah as “the figurehead.” He said he identified members to be included in the HeKAP Committee he set up afterwards.

Are HeKAP donations private funds or public funds

Neither Samuel Adu-Boakye nor Professor Addai-Mensah could say exactly how much has been received in donations for HeKAP and how much has been spent os of June 2026. However, a management letter from the auditors, with responses from the HeKAP Committee, shows that over GH¢50 million had been raised by the time of the audit.

The audit covered the period from March 25, 2024 (when the company was incorporated to run the project) to April 30, 2025.

When asked whether donations received for the HeKAP project were private or public funds, Prof. Addai-Mensah refused to answer, despite the question being repeated 14 times.

“So, you can’t tell if this was public funds or private funds?” I asked at some point.

“Manasseh, that’s your opinion,” Prof. Addai-Mensah said.

“What’s your opinion, as the CEO of the hospital at the time this project was initiated and at the time donations started coming in? Did you consider it private funds or public funds?”

“Manasseh, the Heal Komfo Anokye Project was under the auspices of Manhyia. It was registered as a charity foundation limited by guarantee.”

“So, the monies that came in were private funds?”

“Manasseh, you want us to continue shouting.”

“I think we have to end it because I have asked this question about ten times, and you’re not answering.”

“Yes, it’s because you have asked it in different ways,” Professor Addai-Mensah said.

Despite refusing to say whether the donations for HeKAP were private or public funds, he said public funds should be subject to the Public Financial Management Act, and procurements made by them should be subject to the Public Procurement Act.

The management of donations for the HeKAP project did not follow the above laws because the foundation registered to implement the project is a private company. Even with that status, auditors raised several irregularities with the spending, as contained in an audit management letter sighted in the course of this investigation.

Audit irregularities

In an audit management letter submitted to HeKAP management, the auditors identified infractions, some of which were not wrongdoings but could create opportunities for wrongdoing or blur the lines of accountability. For instance, the auditors said, “No documented procurement policy was seen during the time of audit.”

The absence of a procurement policy, they said, created a “difficulty in establishing the basis for selection and approval of the acquisition of goods, services and works as well as value for money.”

On this issue, management of HeKAP did not respond, to which the auditors said, “The lack of a management response suggests a lack of urgency in addressing this high-risk area.”

The auditors also said no “evidences of written contracts were made available during the time of audit, the procurement procedures used in the selection and award of contracts were not seen, and inspection reports on or certificates for work done could not be seen to confirm payments were properly done.”

The HeKAP management provided the following response for this audit observation:

 “Management acknowledges the observations. During the initial phase of the project, activities were executed on an informal basis, and as such, formal written contracts and documented procurement procedures were not consistently maintained.

“Contractors and service providers were engaged primarily based on trust, by donors for items donated by them. While this ensured timely execution of activities, formal procurement documentation, including contracts and evidence of selection procedures, was not adequately retained.

“With regard to inspection reports and certificates for work done, Management confirms that works were supervised and verified internally before payments were made; however, formal documentation to evidence such verification was not consistently prepared or filed.”

Though HeKAP is run by a private company and KATH had no hands in the operations, the audit report noted: “Receipt books were kept at KATH with an administrative assistant responsible for issuing receipts for cash and cheques received.”

The auditors also noted that a receipt register and register of value documents were not maintained.

They added: “Some receipt leaflets were missing from the receipt book and were neither attached nor marked as void or cancelled.”

To this, management gave the following response:

“Management acknowledges the observations. The noted issues arose primarily due to the inexperience of the cashier engaged during the early phase of the project, which resulted in lapses in receipt issuance, documentation, and record-keeping.

“The officer in charge would tear off the unused and cancelled receipts. Instructions have been given as to the best procedure.

“As a further measure, all donations were published to enable donors to ensure their donations have been accounted for. The only comments we received were names wrongly spelt. Thus, all donations have been verified.”

The auditors proceeded to “suggest that these be investigated, especially those not completely filled out.”

These and other irregularities have been flagged by the auditors. According to Samuel Adu Boakye, these do not suggest malfeasance.

“There’s no iota of malfeasance in the project, except administrative errors, which any audit points out. I don’t see anything wrong in this audit,” he said.

According to sources close to Manhyia, Otumfuo is committed to full accountability and will act on the audit report upon his return to the country.

 This report was produced under the Pledge Against Corruption Ghana project. The civil-society-led project has the Africa Centre for Energy Policy, Transparency International Ghana and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition as partners and is supported by the UK International Development.

He said the facility, built several years ago, has not seen major renovation in recent times, a situation that has negatively affected service delivery.

According to him, the hospital’s current condition and limited infrastructure upgrades make it difficult to provide efficient and safe care expected of a modern health institution.

Dr Awoonor Williams, who worked at the Nkwanta Clinic from 1990 and later contributed to its transition into a hospital, expressed concern about inadequate medical logistics and equipment.

He cited the need for functional theatre machines, X-ray machines, and other modern diagnostic and treatment tools to improve services and reduce referrals.

Speaking to Adom News during a medical outreach programme in Nkwanta, he stressed that retooling the hospital is critical due to the town’s strategic location linking surrounding districts and neighbouring Togo, making the facility important for both local and cross-border health needs.

Since arriving on Saturday, 15th June 2026, the outreach team of surgeons and specialist doctors has screened over 300 people with special medical conditions ahead of surgeries and other treatments.

Dr Awoonor Williams said services under the outreach are free, advising residents to present their National Health Insurance cards and warning the public not to pay anyone for care.

He encouraged residents to take full advantage of the programme while reiterating his call for government to prioritise the rehabilitation and re-equipping of the Nkwanta South Government Hospital to improve health outcomes and bring the facility up to international standards.

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Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Mr. Akandoh said the decision was taken after it emerged that the emergency unit had been closed without the approval of the Health Ministry, contrary to government policy on emergency healthcare delivery.

According to the Minister, the closure directly contradicted a directive issued by President John Dramani Mahama, which prohibits health facilities from turning away emergency cases.

He stressed that the Executive Branch has the authority to take disciplinary action against heads of public institutions where government directives are breached.

“I do not remember any time that when the Executive is executing punitive actions, it needed the permission of Parliament to do so,” Mr. Akandoh told lawmakers.

He recalled that President Mahama had clearly instructed health facilities to prioritise emergency care and ensure that no patient in need of urgent treatment is denied assistance.

“On this floor of Parliament, the President issued a policy direction in the health sector that no health facility should turn away emergency cases, and he added that even if the life of the person must be saved on the ground, we should do so. When the President speaks, it must be implemented,” he stated.

The Minister further emphasized that no individual has the authority to shut down any section of a health facility without the express approval of the Health Minister.

“Let me put on record that absolutely nobody has the right to close any portion of a health facility without the consent of the Health Minister,” he said.

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Conditions targeted under the screening exercise include burns, scars, contractures, hand anomalies, neurofibromas, tumour-related cases requiring excision, and mammoplasty procedures.

Hospital authorities say the exercise is open to members of the public, and are encouraging individuals living with any of the listed conditions, as well as relatives and caregivers, to take advantage of the opportunity for free assessment and possible treatment options.

The programme is being held every Thursday at the hospital’s Out-Patient Department (OPD) and is scheduled to run from June 4 to September 24, 2026.

Participants are required to present a valid National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card when attending the screening.

The initiative brings together a team of specialists from CCTH and Medevac Czech Republic to provide expert evaluation for patients who may require reconstructive surgical intervention.

The programme forms part of efforts to improve access to specialised healthcare services in Ghana, while enhancing the quality of life of patients living with conditions that affect appearance, movement and daily functioning.

Through the collaboration, CCTH and Medevac Czech Republic are seeking to expand reconstructive surgical care and reduce the burden on patients who may otherwise be unable to afford such treatment.

The donation forms part of a pledge made by President John Dramani Mahama and staff of the Presidency, aimed at strengthening national solidarity in addressing the growing burden of costly medical conditions such as cancer, kidney disease, and other life-threatening illnesses.

Presenting the cheque, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, said the initiative reflects a shared responsibility to support vulnerable citizens who are often unable to afford essential treatment without financial assistance.

She emphasized the need for collective national support, urging individuals, institutions, and corporate organisations to contribute towards the sustainability of the fund, noting that healthcare challenges require a united response.

Receiving the donation, the Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, expressed appreciation to the Presidency, describing the gesture as a strong demonstration of leadership, compassion, and commitment to the welfare of Ghanaians in need.

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A nationwide needs assessment conducted by the fund found that, beyond the two functioning MRI machines, public health facilities across the country have only five mammogram machines and two radiotherapy machines. At the same time, just two cardiologists serve the entire northern part of Ghana.

As a result, the acquisition of additional MRI scanners is one of the immediate priorities of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund under the MahamaCares initiative, the Administrator, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, has said.

She was speaking in Accra on Monday [June 15, 2026], during a ceremony at the Office of the President, where a cheque for GH¢6.1 million was presented to the fund.

She said the assessment, carried out shortly after the establishment of the fund, exposed major gaps in the country’s capacity to diagnose and treat chronic non-communicable diseases.

“The needs assessment guided our four strategic pillars: patient support, infrastructure and equipment, workforce development, and medical research,” Ms Darko-Opoku said.

She explained that the findings had informed the fund’s intervention plans, including efforts to expand access to specialised medical equipment and specialist care. “Access to specialised healthcare should not depend on where you are coming from, your need or your income,” she said.

Ms Darko-Opoku said work had begun on three cardiology centres at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

She added that dialysis machines and intensive care unit equipment were also being supplied to health facilities across the country.

According to her, the fund aims to increase the number of specialists in chronic disease care in all regions within the next few years. “Our vision is that within a few years, every region in Ghana will have at least 10 specialists to provide advanced care for people living with chronic diseases,” she said.

She said a pilot phase of the programme had already financed surgeries and chemotherapy treatment for 50 patients ahead of the nationwide rollout of patient support services in 29 hospitals this month. “These are not just medical successes, they are stories of restored hope,” Ms Darko-Opoku said.

The GH¢6.1 million donation presented at the ceremony comprised President John Dramani Mahama’s six-month salary contribution, one-month salary donations from presidential appointees and staff, and deductions from officials who failed to meet the asset declaration deadline.

The Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Administration at the Office of the President, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, said additional contributions were expected from appointees who had yet to fulfil their declaration obligations.

She said the demand for treatment of chronic diseases continued to rise, citing one health facility that recorded 5,000 new diabetes referrals in the first half of 2025. “These are not just statistics, they are our people, our family, our relatives,” Nana Oye Bampoe Addo said.

Nana Oye Bampoe Addo said the Ghana Medical Trust Fund would require about GH¢3 billion annually during its first three years of operation. Parliament approved GH¢2.9 billion for the fund in 2025 under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Act, 2025 (Act 1144).

She appealed to Ghanaians, corporate bodies and philanthropic organisations to support the MahamaCares initiative. “We are making a passionate appeal for more donations for the trust fund to save more Ghanaian lives. We know you will hear, you will dig deep in your pockets and contribute,” she said.

Ms Darko-Opoku echoed the call. “The fight against chronic non-communicable disease belongs to all of us. History will remember us for the lives we touched, not what positions we held,” she said.

Ghanaians who wish to contribute can do so by dialling *255# on any mobile network.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, and other parts of the body. Because its symptoms often resemble common illnesses such as malaria or typhoid, many patients are diagnosed late or remain undiagnosed.

Speaking in an interview, Sweetness said lupus disproportionately affects women, particularly Black women. She noted that stress, depression, and environmental factors may act as triggers, while also highlighting the frequent misdiagnosis of the condition due to its similarity to other common illnesses.

She explained that although there is currently no cure for lupus, it can be effectively managed with proper medical care.

“Lupus is an autoimmune disease that mainly affects women, especially Black women,” she said.

Sweetness stressed the importance of adhering to prescribed treatment plans and maintaining healthy lifestyle practices to help manage the condition.

She added that proper dietary management and self-care can help reduce flare-ups and control symptoms, enabling people living with lupus to lead productive lives.

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The confirmed cases include 181 deaths, according to the government’s latest situation report.

The data shows that the outbreak, Congo’s 17th, remains confined to three eastern provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

But it showed that cases had been confirmed for the first time in the Nia-Nia health zone in Ituri and the Mabalako health zone in North Kivu.

There are now confirmed cases in 20 of Ituri’s 36 ​health zones, 10 of North Kivu’s 34 health zones, and 1 health zone in South Kivu.

The training, facilitated by the Regional Manager, Mohammed Issah Baba (DCAEMT), was designed to equip the students with practical knowledge needed to respond effectively to medical emergencies on campus and in their future workplaces.

Participants received hands-on instruction in Basic Life Support (BLS), including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), choking management, bleeding control techniques, and the recognition and management of shock before professional medical assistance arrives.

According to NAS, the initiative forms part of efforts to promote emergency preparedness and strengthen community resilience through public education on life-saving interventions.

As future teachers, the students are expected to play a key role in ensuring the safety and well-being of pupils under their care, making emergency response knowledge an important skill in the classroom environment.

Management and students of the college expressed appreciation to the NAS team for the training, describing it as timely and practical.

They noted that the exercise had improved their confidence and preparedness to respond appropriately during emergencies.

Nearly 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults have used AI chatbots for advice or help when they felt upset, nervous or anxious, according to a new study published June 1 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Researchers also found that many of these young people use chatbots repeatedly and consider the advice helpful, suggesting that AI is already becoming part of the mental health information ecosystem for millions of young people. Those insights are raising important questions about how these tools should be used and where their limitations lie.

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To help us untangle these questions, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously served as Baltimore’s health commissioner and is the mother of two young children.

CNN: What did this new study discover about why so many young people are turning to AI chatbots for support?

Dr. Leana Wen: This study surveyed 1,009 adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 21 across the United States and weighted the findings to represent nearly 43 million young people nationwide. Researchers asked participants whether they had used AI chatbots for advice or help when feeling sad, angry, nervous or stressed.

The team found that 19% reported doing so, which translates to more than 8 million young people nationally. Among those participants who used chatbots for emotional support, many individuals reported doing so repeatedly, with more than 4 in 10 using chatbots at least monthly. Interestingly, young people who had recently discussed their mental health with a physician were more likely to report using AI chatbots, which suggests that these tools are often being employed alongside traditional sources of support.

As to why young people are turning to chatbots, I think the answer is self-evident. These tools are available at any hour of the day, they respond instantly, they do not appear judgmental and they can feel private. For a teenager who is embarrassed to discuss a problem with a parent, teacher or counselor, typing a question into a chatbot may feel easier than starting a conversation with another person.

CNN: The study found that most users considered the advice helpful. Does that mean these chatbots are helping?

Wen: Not necessarily. This is one of the most important distinctions in the study.

The researchers found that more than 91% of users viewed the advice as somewhat or very helpful. That tells us that young people generally liked the responses they received. It does not tell us whether the responses improved their mental health, reduced symptoms of depression or anxiety, or led to better long-term outcomes.

This is a key distinction because AI chatbots are often designed to be engaging and agreeable, even flattering and sycophantic. They can make users feel heard and validated, and to want to come back for more “conversation.” Those qualities may create a positive user experience, but they are not the same as evidence-based mental healthcare.

Consider how this finding applies to other aspects of healthcare. Patients want a warm and friendly interaction with their provider, but it really matters whether the advice is accurate and actually improves someone’s health outcomes. You wouldn’t go to just anyone for your medical care, and you shouldn’t just go to a general-purpose AI tool for your mental healthcare.

CNN: What are the biggest concerns about relying on AI chatbots for mental health advice?

Wen: The first concern is accuracy. These systems can hallucinate and provide incorrect information. They can misunderstand context and offer advice that sounds convincing but is wrong and even dangerous. They are not substitutes for clinical judgment and, importantly, cannot recognize when someone may need urgent intervention.

Second, chatbots may reinforce what users want to hear rather than what they need to hear. If a young person expresses a distorted belief, unhealthy coping strategy or potentially harmful idea, the chatbot may validate parts of that thinking rather than appropriately challenging it.

Third, some adolescents may delay seeking professional help because they feel that the chatbot is providing enough support. For mild stress or everyday frustrations, choosing that type of help may not matter. For serious depression, anxiety, self-harm or suicidal thoughts, a delay in treatment matters a lot. There have been numerous cases in which parents blamed AI bots for mental health harms and suicides in their children. Teens not obtaining appropriate and timely mental healthcare can have very real consequences.

CNN: The researchers found that most young people did not tell anyone they were using chatbots for this purpose. Why is that significant?

Wen: This was one of the findings that stood out most to me. Nearly two-thirds of users said they had not told anyone they were using chatbots for emotional support.

Again, there are understandable reasons, such as privacy. The problem is that parents, clinicians and other trusted adults may have no idea how much AI is influencing how a young person thinks about emotional challenges. If an adolescent is receiving inaccurate information or becoming overly dependent on a chatbot, the adults in their life may never know.

That is why I think parents and healthcare professionals should begin asking about AI use in the same way they ask about social media use. It is becoming an increasingly important part of how young people gather information and seek support.

CNN: Are there situations where AI chatbots can play a positive role in emotional support or mental health?

Wen: Possibly, yes. For instance, AI chatbots may help some people practice difficult conversations, learn basic coping strategies or identify mental health resources. They may also lower barriers for people who are hesitant to seek support. For example, a teenager experiencing anxiety might use a chatbot to learn about relaxation techniques or to develop questions to ask a therapist.

Some AI tools are being built specifically to help patients who are already under the care of a mental health professional. If validated in the future, they may become better alternatives to the generic AI chatbots that we currently have. Again, though, the danger is when AI becomes a substitute for human relationships and professional care.

CNN: What can parents do to support their child’s emotional well-being when AI is becoming part of everyday life?

Wen: I recommend approaching AI much as many families have learned to approach social media. Understand what tools your child is using. Ask open-ended questions. Stay curious rather than judgmental.

Parents can help children understand that AI has strengths and limitations. They can query AI together and see how chatbots can provide helpful suggestions but also emphasize how important it is to verify the information provided and to question responses. That includes typing the same question in different chatbots. And they can certainly emphasize that AI is a tool, not a replacement for a therapist or trusted family member.

I also would encourage parents to model healthy help-seeking behavior. Children should know that asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness. They should understand that emotional challenges are a normal part of life and that there are many trusted — human — sources of help available, including teachers, counselors, pediatricians, and, of course, parents and other caregivers.

CNN: What is your advice for adolescents and young adults who are struggling with stress, anxiety, sadness or other mental health concerns?

Wen: If you are struggling, please know that you do not have to handle it alone. Speak to your parents or other trusted adults. If symptoms are persistent, interfere with daily life or involve thoughts of self-harm, professional help is especially important. That means contacting your primary care physician or licensed mental health professional.

The initiative, being championed through the National Vaccine Institute, seeks to advance Ghana’s goal of achieving vaccine sovereignty while ensuring a reliable supply of vaccines for citizens.

Speaking to Adom News, several respondents described the move as a major milestone for Ghana’s healthcare and industrial sectors.

“For years, we have depended on imported vaccines and medicines. If Ghana can produce its own vaccines, it will be a big achievement for the country,” one respondent said.

Others noted that local vaccine production could help improve access to vaccines and reduce the country’s vulnerability during global health emergencies.

Although some respondents admitted they were not fully aware of the progress being made towards local vaccine manufacturing, they applauded the initiative and urged government to fast-track its implementation.

“We have good scientists, doctors and health professionals in Ghana. If they are given the needed support, I believe they can produce quality vaccines for us,” another participant stated.

Many respondents also expressed confidence in locally manufactured vaccines, provided regulatory institutions such as the Food and Drugs Authority maintain strict quality and safety standards.

“I trust that the FDA will do its work to ensure that any vaccine produced in Ghana is safe and effective before it reaches the public as they do with other products; we should trust them,” a respondent noted.

Some participants observed that many Ghanaians often place greater confidence in imported medicines than locally produced ones. However, they believe the local vaccine manufacturing agenda presents an opportunity to change that perception.

“We always think foreign products are better, but if our own experts produce vaccines that meet international standards, we should support and trust them,” another respondent said.

The respondents further called for sustained public education and awareness campaigns to address misconceptions about vaccines and encourage public confidence as Ghana moves closer to local vaccine production.

They believe successful local vaccine manufacturing will not only strengthen Ghana’s health system but also position the country as a key player in pharmaceutical production within the West African sub-region.

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Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the hospital’s centenary celebration, Medical Director Dr. Saanwie Suntaa Aiden said the facility has the personnel and wide range of services needed to support that vision.

“This hospital, I think in terms of personnel and the range of services we render, we are at a teaching hospital level,” he said.

Dr. Aiden, however, noted that achieving the goal would require improved infrastructure and modern equipment, particularly the completion of the New Eastern Regional Hospital project.

“What we need to propel us to the realization of that vision fully is to be able to have a well-equipped facility with state-of-the-art equipment,” he stated.

He expressed optimism about the future of the project following assurances from government that work would soon resume.

His comments came after Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Awatey announced that John Dramani Mahama had directed the contractor handling the New Eastern Regional Hospital project to return to site.

“I am pleased to announce the long-awaited news from the President of the Nation that the New Eastern Regional Hospital project will soon revive its work,” she said.

According to the Minister, the directive reflects government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and improving access to quality healthcare in the Eastern Region.

Dr. Aiden said the hospital remains hopeful construction will progress as expected.

“We are patiently following the progress of the work, hoping that that can come out very soon. It is a priority area for us as a facility to get to the next level,” he said.

He added that management would continue investing internally generated funds into the development of the hospital while seeking partnerships to support its growth.

“Whatever little we generate, we are going to put it back into the facility to build it to the next level,” he noted.

Dr. Aiden also stressed the need to develop specialist human resources to support the hospital’s long-term ambition.

“We have to be working towards the human resource to be able to function fully as a teaching hospital when we get there. So that is going to be my goal going forward,” he said.

The remarks were made at the launch of the Eastern Regional Hospital’s centenary celebration under the theme: “A Century of Quality Healthcare, Innovation and Excellence.”

Established in 1926, the hospital has served as a major referral facility in the Eastern Region for the past 100 years and is expected to roll out a series of activities in the coming months to commemorate the milestone.

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According to the Minister, the current state of healthcare delivery in the region reflects years of neglect, leaving the government with enormous challenges to overcome.

Mr. Gunu made the remarks during his welcome address to party communicators, Members of Parliament, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Ho ahead of the launch of the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative by the Minister for Health.

He stated that although the health sector remains one of the most critical areas of national development, it is also among the sectors where the current administration inherited significant deficits.

“The health sector is one of the critical areas and one of the very challenging sectors that we have inherited. The Volta Region has seen challenges that should never have existed some eight years ago,” he said.

The Regional Minister revealed that the region currently requires about 253 Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare services to residents.

He questioned the level of investment made in the sector by the previous administration, arguing that if enough attention had been given to healthcare infrastructure over the years, the region would not be facing such shortages today.

“Today, could you believe that we need 253 CHPS compounds in order to deliver quality health services to our people? We wouldn’t have been where we are today if our predecessors had done well in the health sector. But we accepted the challenge because that is why Ghanaians voted for us,” he stated.

Mr. Gunu noted that the current government has begun taking steps to address the situation, disclosing that every district in the Volta Region is constructing at least two CHPS compounds to improve access to healthcare at the community level.

He further called on party communicators to actively educate the public on government interventions in the health sector and the challenges inherited by the administration.

The Minister for Health was in Ho to officially launch the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme in the Volta Region, an initiative aimed at expanding access to essential healthcare services and strengthening primary healthcare delivery across the country.

The launch brought together party executives, traditional leaders, health officials, MMDCEs, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders committed to improving healthcare outcomes in the region.

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The facility was commissioned by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2025 but has yet to begin operations due to a series of infrastructural and administrative challenges.

Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News , Prof. Beyuo said progress is being made in addressing the key bottlenecks hindering the hospital’s operation, expressing optimism that it will be opened within the year.

He explained that authorities are currently reviewing discrepancies between claims made by the contractor and assessments conducted by the Ministry of Finance, a process he said is necessary to ensure accuracy before any payments are finalised.

Prof. Beyuo, however, disclosed that based on his latest briefing from the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, government is working with an even shorter timeline to operationalise the facility.

According to him, the minister is pressing relevant agencies to expedite work on the hospital, stressing that it is expected to be opened earlier than the end of the year, though he could not disclose the exact timeline.

“From my last briefing from the Minister for Health, he is not expecting up to the end of the year. In fact, he has a much shorter timeline which I won’t disclose because I don’t know if I have his authority to disclose,” he said.

His comments come amid renewed calls from the Minority in Parliament for the swift operationalisation of the 500-bed facility, which is expected to ease congestion and bed shortages at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, she said she has been approached by several women who confide in her about challenges in their marriages and how such alternatives are helping them manage intimacy gaps.

“The number of people who come to me to talk about this issue of sex toys,” she said, adding that many of the women raising these concerns are married and seeking ways to cope when their husbands travel frequently for work.

According to her, some of the women say the use of such products helps them remain faithful in their marriages. “Those whose husbands travel for work and because they don’t want to be promiscuous,” she explained.

Nana Yaa Jantuah also noted that her initial exposure to the subject came through conversations with a woman who had to explain what sex toys were after she admitted she was unfamiliar with them.

“I have never seen one before or even know how it looks like,” she said.

She recounted that after the first explanation, she became more aware of ongoing public discussions around the topic and its growing presence in conversations about relationships and marriage.

“The first person who spoke to me, and I told her I didn’t know what it was or looked like, she described it to me and told me that it is in the law, and after that I have heard a lot of conversations about it,” she added.

She further argued that open discussions around sex and intimacy are important for strengthening relationships and preventing misinformation, especially among young people.

“And if I say saving marriages, we should also demystify the issue of sex, because if we don’t talk to our children about it at home, things about sex then they will learn on the streets,” she said.

Her comments have since generated public debate on the role of sex education and intimacy tools in modern marriages.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, Dr Nawaane said the concerns being raised by the Minority over stalled health projects mirror the approach the current government adopted while in opposition.

“What the Minority is doing now, we did the same when we were in the Minority,” he said.

His comments come after Minority members on Parliament’s Health Committee, led by Ranking Member Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, toured several health facilities in the Ashanti Region amid concerns over pressure on health infrastructure, including challenges facing the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Dr Nawaane accused the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration of leaving several projects abandoned for years.

“They should continue weeding. They left those projects there for eight years before we came to power,” he stated.

According to him, some of the facilities had deteriorated significantly due to years of neglect.

“When we went there, all the equipment had been damaged and was no longer fit for purpose. They attempted to commission the facilities, but they couldn’t,” he alleged.

The Health Committee Chair noted that the Sewua and Afari hospital projects were initiated during President John Mahama’s first term in office but remained incomplete throughout the NPP administration.

“The projects in Sewua and Afari were projects Mahama started during his first term,” he said.

Dr Nawaane explained that the government is prioritising economic stability while working to complete abandoned projects.

“When we came, the economy was in intensive care and we have started fixing it,” he said.

He stressed that the government would not resort to excessive borrowing to complete projects.

“We are not going to borrow from external sources for projects. Last year, we used our internal resources. We don’t want to go down the borrowing path anymore because we need to stabilise the economy,” he explained.

Despite the challenges, Dr Nawaane assured Ghanaians that the government remains committed to completing all unfinished health projects across the country.

“We are committed to completing all the uncompleted projects they left behind,” he added.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, the Bosomtwe MP expressed disappointment over the delay in opening the Agenda 111 Hospital at Trede and the Sewua Hospital, both of which he said are ready for use.

“What wrong has Ashanti Region done?” he asked.

According to Dr Afriyie, the Agenda 111 Hospital at Trede only requires personnel to begin operations, as all the necessary infrastructure has been completed.

“At Trede, the Agenda 111 hospital has been completed with all the doctors’ bungalows fully completed. All that is needed now is the staff. The road leading to the hospital is there, electricity is there and everything is ready,” he said.

He questioned why the government has not taken steps to make the facility operational.

“What is preventing the government from operationalising it?” he asked.

The Ranking Member also raised concerns about the Sewua Hospital, insisting that the facility is ready to serve residents in the region.

“Ashanti Region does not have a regional hospital. Sewua is ready. I’m so disappointed,” he stated.

Dr Afriyie argued that the Ashanti Region deserves greater attention in healthcare infrastructure, particularly considering its population size and the limited number of major health facilities compared to Accra.

“The opportunities in Accra are not the same as in the Ashanti Region. Accra has several well-equipped hospitals that Ashanti Region does not have, yet the population is almost the same,” he said.

He further criticised the government’s decision to embark on new hospital projects in other regions while completed facilities in the Ashanti Region remain unused.

“The President is constructing new hospitals in Western North, Savannah and Oti regions, but completed hospitals in Ashanti Region are yet to be operationalised,” he noted.

The Bosomtwe MP said he was surprised that the government had not taken advantage of the opportunity to operationalise projects inherited from the previous administration.

“Wouldn’t it be nice that the NDC has built something and the NDC will operationalise it?” he quizzed.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane, defended ongoing discussions on abandoned health projects and urged the Minority to continue drawing attention to them.

“We also did what the Minority is doing today when we were in opposition. They should continue weeding at the projects their government left in the bush,” he said.

Dr Afriyie maintained that operationalising completed facilities would be a more prudent use of resources and called on the government to carefully assess the costs and benefits before making decisions on new projects.

“Analyse your benefits to the cost and take your decision,” he added.

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The intervention, held on 28 and 29 May 2026, followed a three-day screening exercise that assessed 150 individuals. Out of the number screened, 107 patients were found eligible and subsequently underwent successful cataract surgery.

The initiative provided affordable access to quality eye care for beneficiaries who would otherwise have been unable to afford treatment. Patients also received medication, post-operative counselling, protective eyeglasses, and scheduled follow-up reviews to support recovery and ensure optimal outcomes.

Several beneficiaries shared emotional testimonies, including individuals who regained independence after years of impaired vision, as well as a Ghanaian teacher based in Nigeria who returned home specifically for the surgery after cataracts affected his ability to work effectively.

The outreach was delivered through a partnership between the Cure Blindness Project (CBP), an NGO, and the Eye Centre of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. A team of six ophthalmologists and five ophthalmology residents, led by Dr Andrew Elikem Akafo, conducted the procedures with support from nurses and other staff.

Management of the Eye Centre commended the teamwork behind the programme, describing it as a key step in efforts to reduce avoidable blindness in Ghana. They also expressed appreciation to Cure Blindness Project for its continued support in expanding access to eye care services.

The Centre noted that such outreaches form part of its 2026 agenda aimed at reducing avoidable blindness and strengthening access to affordable, patient-centred eye care across the country.

Obeng, who has built a growing following of about 460,000 on TikTok, creates content focused on love, communication, trust, and emotional wellbeing. His videos often address common relationship challenges, offering advice and relatable scenarios that resonate with a wide audience.

Through short, engaging clips, he highlights issues such as toxic relationships, misunderstandings between partners, and the importance of respect and honesty.

His content has attracted strong engagement, contributing to his rising influence on Ghana’s digital landscape.

Alvin Obeng says his goal is to use relationship-focused content to educate the youth and encourage them to stay focused and build meaningful lives.

He notes that TikTok allows creators to reach large audiences quickly, making it an effective platform for awareness creation and lifestyle education.

Obeng’s work reflects a growing trend of influencers using digital platforms not only for entertainment but also to spark conversations around social issues affecting everyday life.

He also has a strong presence on Facebook, where he has over 230,000 followers, and says he remains committed to educating, inspiring, and promoting healthy relationships among his audience.

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Presenting a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the Asokwa MP explained that obstetric fistula is often caused by prolonged obstructed labour without access to emergency delivery care.

She described it as a condition that results in a tear or an abnormal opening between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, leaving affected women incontinent.

Hon. Appiagyei noted that an estimated 12,000 women and girls in Ghana are currently living with the debilitating and dehumanising condition.

She appealed to the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to expand the country’s fistula repair capacity from the current 200 cases annually to more than 2,000 cases each year.

The Deputy Minority Leader further urged stakeholders, communities and development partners to raise awareness about obstetric fistula, combat stigma, increase the number of repair surgeries and advocate for the dignity and rights of affected women.

She stressed that a collective effort is needed to end the condition and improve the lives of thousands of women and girls affected across the country.

According to her, strengthening access to quality maternal healthcare, expanding treatment services and enhancing public education are critical steps towards eliminating obstetric fistula and ensuring affected women can live with dignity and hope.

The announcement was made by the organisers of the 100 Legendary African Dignitaries Awards, which recognised Dr Dogbatsey as one of the distinguished honourees in the health sector.

Dr Dogbatsey is a Ghanaian medical doctor and entrepreneur known for his work in men’s healthcare through the Medi-Moses Clinic and Prostate Centre, which specialises in the treatment of prostate conditions. The facility operates five branches across Ghana.

He is reported to have treated thousands of patients with prostate-related conditions over three decades of medical practice.

A graduate of the School of Medical Sciences at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Dogbatsey began his career at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he rose to the rank of Senior Medical Officer.

He later obtained a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Pharmacognosy (Plant Medicine) from KNUST and lectured in herbal medicine. He is also regarded as one of the early Ghanaian medical doctors to specialise in plant-based medicine.

Between 2004 and 2008, he headed the Clinical Research Department at the Centre for Scientific Research in Plant Medicine in Mampong-Akuapem. He also trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine at Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

He later established the Medi-Moses Prostate Centre, focusing on the treatment of enlarged prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). He also developed herbal formulations including Prostatcure Herbal Tea and Prostatcure-X Capsules.

Dr Dogbatsey is also credited with developing several herbal products targeting various health conditions, including infertility, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, diabetes, menstrual disorders, and other ailments.

The award organisers said the recognition celebrates his leadership, contributions to plant-based medicine, and impact on healthcare delivery in Africa.

He was formally honoured at a ceremony held in Kigali, Rwanda, on June 5, 2026.

Commenting on the recognition, he expressed gratitude to his family, staff, partners and clients for their support.

“This is a massive win for the Medi-Moses fraternity. I want to thank God Almighty, my wife, my children, all staff at Medi-Moses, especially our Marketing Manager Mr Nana Bonsu Afrane. I also thank my partners and cherished clients for their unflinching support throughout this journey,” he said.

The 100 Legendary African Dignitaries Awards, organised by The Business Executive, is a continental platform that recognises outstanding leaders across Africa for excellence and impact.

According to the Minister, 1,500 health workers have already been processed for deployment, with priority given to underserved communities where staffing shortages continue to affect healthcare delivery.

Speaking at the 2026 Annual Health Summit in Accra, Mr. Akandoh expressed concern over the persistent challenge of attracting health professionals to deprived areas.

He revealed that in 2024, only 12 medical doctors accepted postings to eight underserved regions, highlighting the difficulties in ensuring equitable distribution of healthcare personnel nationwide.

To address the challenge, the Minister said the government has intensified efforts to expand specialist training opportunities, including the decentralisation of postgraduate medical education to make advanced training more accessible across the country.

He further disclosed that nursing training programmes have been expanded, with 475 nurses currently undergoing training and plans underway to increase annual enrolment to about 1,000 nurses.

Mr. Akandoh stressed that the government’s strategy goes beyond increasing the number of health workers and focuses on developing specialised cadres of professionals capable of responding to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

“The focus is not only on increasing numbers but also on training the right mix of professionals to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the population,” he noted.

The Health Minister also announced that the government has awarded 30 PhD scholarships to support capacity building within the health sector and strengthen research, policy development, and healthcare delivery.

He said the various interventions form part of broader efforts to build a resilient health system capable of delivering quality healthcare services to all Ghanaians, regardless of their location.

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According to the Centre, the latest milestone highlights its growing capacity to provide specialised renal care and advanced transplant services in Ghana.

UGMC said that since conducting its first kidney transplant in June 2024, it has successfully carried out 15 kidney transplant procedures, offering renewed hope to patients living with end-stage kidney disease.

The Centre described the achievement as a major step towards strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system and reducing the need for patients to travel abroad to access transplant services.

Management commended the dedication and professionalism of its multidisciplinary medical team, whose efforts have contributed to the success of the programme.

UGMC further reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to quality transplant services, enhancing specialised healthcare delivery, and improving patient outcomes across the country.

The latest successful procedures further position UGMC as one of Ghana’s leading centres for organ transplantation and specialised medical care.

UGMC is excited to announce the successful completion of 4 more kidney transplants. So far, 15 kidney transplants have been successfully conducted since the Centre conducted its first transplants 2 years ago in June 2024. #inspiringhope#promotinghealtg pic.twitter.com/rw19oQAG0X

— University of Ghana Medical Centre LTD (@ugmedicalcentre) June 9, 2026

In Ghana, particularly in Accra, Airbnb has become a dominant feature of the urban property landscape. Across neighbourhoods such as East Legon, Cantonments, Airport Residential Area, Labone, Dzorwulu, Ridge, Osu, and East Legon Hills, thousands of apartments and houses are now listed on short-term rental platforms. Investors increasingly purchase properties not for long-term tenants but for short-term guests, tourists, business travellers, and members of the Ghanaian diaspora.

The rise of Airbnb has generated significant economic benefits. It has expanded accommodation options, boosted tourism, created jobs, and provided new income streams for property owners. However, it has also sparked growing concerns about its impact on housing affordability and the availability of rental accommodation for residents.

As Accra grapples with rising rents, escalating property prices, and a persistent housing deficit, the debate surrounding Airbnb has become increasingly relevant. Is Airbnb contributing to economic growth and urban development, or is it worsening the housing challenges faced by ordinary Ghanaians? The answer lies somewhere in between.

The Accra Airbnb Boom

Accra has undergone tremendous growth over the last twenty years. Rapid urbanisation, population growth, increased foreign investment, and a thriving diaspora community have transformed the capital into one of West Africa’s most dynamic cities.

The success of initiatives such as the Year of Return and Beyond the Return significantly increased international attention on Ghana. Visitor arrivals rose, investment increased, and demand for accommodation surged. While hotels benefited from this growth, many visitors increasingly sought alternatives that offered more space, privacy, flexibility, and value for money. Airbnb emerged as the ideal solution.

Unlike traditional hotels, Airbnb properties allow visitors to experience local communities while enjoying home-like facilities. Families can rent entire apartments, business travellers can stay in residential neighbourhoods, and long-term visitors can secure accommodation that often proves more affordable than extended hotel stays.

This growing demand encouraged property owners to enter the market. What initially began with homeowners renting spare rooms quickly evolved into a sophisticated investment sector where entire apartment blocks are designed and operated exclusively as short-term rentals.

Today, many new developments in Accra are marketed specifically to investors seeking Airbnb income.

The Economic Benefits of Airbnb

Supporting Ghana’s Tourism Industry

Tourism remains one of Ghana’s most important economic sectors. The industry generates foreign exchange, creates employment, and supports thousands of small businesses.

Airbnb has expanded the country’s accommodation capacity without requiring government investment in hotels or tourism infrastructure. During major events, conferences, festivals, and the December holiday season, Airbnb properties provide accommodation that helps absorb increased visitor demand. Without these additional units, hotel prices would rise significantly, and some visitors might choose alternative destinations.

Moreover, Airbnb guests often spend money directly within local communities. Unlike tourists who remain within hotel compounds, Airbnb users typically patronise local restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, transportation providers, bars, and entertainment venues. This decentralisation of tourism spending spreads economic benefits across neighbourhoods and creates opportunities for small businesses.

Additional Income for Property Owners

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of Airbnb is the income it generates for property owners. Traditionally, landlords in Ghana rely on annual or multi-year rental agreements. Under this model, rental income remains relatively fixed regardless of fluctuations in market demand. Airbnb fundamentally changes this equation.

A property that might generate GH¢4,000 or GH¢5,000 per month under a traditional lease could potentially generate substantially higher revenues through short-term rentals, particularly during peak tourism periods. For many homeowners, Airbnb has become a valuable source of supplementary income. Some use these earnings to pay mortgages, maintain properties, finance education, or support retirement plans.

For diaspora investors, Airbnb offers an attractive opportunity to generate returns while retaining flexibility over their assets.

Job Creation and Entrepreneurship

The Airbnb economy extends far beyond property owners.

Each short-term rental property creates demand for numerous services, including: cleaning and housekeeping, property management, security services, laundry operations, landscaping, interior design, maintenance and repairs, photography and marketing and guest transportation. A growing number of young Ghanaians now operate businesses dedicated to managing Airbnb properties on behalf of owners. Others provide specialised services such as guest relations, digital marketing, or property maintenance.

This ecosystem has created employment opportunities and entrepreneurial ventures that did not exist a decade ago.

Encouraging Property Development

Airbnb has also stimulated investment in the construction sector. Developers are increasingly attracted to projects that can generate strong returns through short-term rentals. This has encouraged the construction of apartment complexes, serviced residences, and mixed-use developments throughout Accra. The resulting investment contributes to economic activity, supports construction jobs, and expands the city’s housing stock.

In a country where housing supply remains inadequate, any increase in residential construction can be viewed as a positive development.

Accra’s Housing Crunch

While Airbnb’s economic contributions are substantial, concerns about its impact on housing affordability cannot be ignored.

Ghana faces a significant housing deficit estimated at 1.8 million housing units. That is according to the Minister for Works and Housing, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei. This challenge is worsened by affordability constraints that limit access to decent housing for many low- and middle-income earners. The shortage is particularly severe in urban centres such as Accra, where population growth continues to outpace housing supply. At the same time, home ownership remains beyond the reach of many citizens due to high property prices, expensive mortgages, and stagnant wage growth.

Rental accommodation has traditionally provided an alternative for middle-income households. However, rents have risen sharply across the capital over the past decade.

The question therefore arises: What role is Airbnb playing in this crisis?

Reduction in Long-Term Rental Housing

The primary criticism of Airbnb is that it removes housing units from the long-term rental market. Every apartment converted into a short-term rental represents one less unit available for permanent residents. This effect becomes particularly significant in high-demand neighbourhoods where housing supply is already constrained. When investors discover that short-term rentals generate higher returns than traditional leases, economic incentives encourage them to prioritise Airbnb guests over local tenants. As more landlords make this transition, the supply of long-term rental housing decreases.

Basic economic principles suggest that when supply falls while demand remains strong, prices increase.

The result? Higher rent for residents.

Rising Rental Prices

The influence of Airbnb extends beyond properties actively listed on the platform. Landlords increasingly compare potential Airbnb revenues with traditional rental income when determining rental rates. If a two-bedroom apartment can generate the equivalent of GH¢12,000 per month through short-term stays, many landlords become reluctant to rent the same property for GH¢4,000 or GH¢5,000 per month under a conventional lease. This changes market expectations. Even landlords who do not operate Airbnb properties may increase rents because they know alternative opportunities exist.

The burden ultimately falls on ordinary residents, particularly young professionals: nurses, teachers, civil servants, as well as recent graduates attempting to establish themselves in the city.

Gentrification and Neighbourhood Transformation

Another concern is the gradual transformation of residential communities into tourist-oriented districts. Neighbourhoods once characterised by stable residential populations increasingly accommodate transient visitors. As investor demand grows, property values rise. Developers focus on luxury apartments targeted at investors rather than affordable housing targeted at local residents. This process, often described as gentrification, can gradually displace lower-income households from desirable locations.

While areas such as Cantonments and Airport Residential have historically catered to higher-income residents, similar trends are increasingly visible in emerging locations including East Legon Hills, Adjiringanor, and parts of Spintex.

The long-term consequence is a city that becomes increasingly segregated by income.

Housing as Shelter versus Housing as Investment

The Airbnb debate ultimately raises a broader philosophical question: Should housing primarily serve as a place for people to live, or as an investment vehicle designed to maximise financial returns?

Property owners understandably seek to maximise income from their investments. This is a rational economic decision. However, housing differs from many other assets because it fulfils a basic human need. When investment objectives dominate housing policy, affordability often suffers.

The challenge for governments is therefore to balance private property rights with broader social objectives.

Is Airbnb Really the Main Problem?

Although Airbnb contributes to affordability pressures, it would be inaccurate to portray it as the primary cause of Accra’s housing crisis. Several structural factors have a far greater influence on housing costs.

Rising Land Prices

Land prices in Accra have increased dramatically over the last decade. Areas once considered affordable, including Kwabenya, Pokuase, Oyibi, Amasaman, and East Legon Hills, have experienced substantial appreciation.

As land becomes more expensive, developers face higher project costs, which are ultimately passed on to buyers and tenants.

Construction Costs

The cost of building materials continues to rise due to inflation, exchange-rate fluctuations, import dependency, and global supply chain pressures. Cement, steel, aluminium, roofing materials, electrical components, and finishing products have all become significantly more expensive.

Developers have little choice but to incorporate these costs into selling prices and rents.

Limited Affordable Housing Development

Much of Accra’s recent housing development has targeted upper-middle-income and high-income buyers. Affordable housing production remains insufficient relative to demand. 

The result is a mismatch between the housing being built and the housing most residents can afford.

Urbanisation

Thousands of people migrate to Accra annually in search of employment, education, and economic opportunities. This constant influx increases housing demand and places pressure on existing infrastructure.

Even without Airbnb, the city would still face significant affordability challenges.

Lessons from International Cities

Cities around the world have struggled with similar issues. Barcelona, Amsterdam, New York, Paris, and London have all introduced regulations aimed at balancing tourism with housing affordability.

Common measures include:

• Mandatory registration of Airbnb properties.
• Tourist taxes on short-term stays.
• Restrictions on the number of rental days per year.
• Limits on multiple-property ownership.
• Enhanced reporting requirements.
• Zoning regulations for short-term rentals.

These policies do not eliminate Airbnb but seek to prevent excessive conversion of residential housing into tourist accommodation.

Ghana may eventually need to consider similar approaches as the sector continues to expand.

The Way Forward for Ghana

The solution is not to ban Airbnb. Doing so would undermine tourism, reduce investment, and eliminate valuable income opportunities. Instead, policymakers should focus on creating balance.

Potential measures include:

• Strengthening regulation and registration requirements.
• Improving data collection on short-term rental activity.
• Encouraging affordable housing development.
• Providing incentives for long-term rental accommodation.
• Expanding mortgage accessibility.
• Investing in transportation infrastructure to open new residential areas.
• Streamlining land administration processes.

Most importantly, government must address the underlying structural causes of housing unaffordability.

Airbnb alone did not create Accra’s housing crisis, and regulating Airbnb alone will not solve it.

The Bottom Line

Airbnb is neither a hero nor villain. It boosts tourism, income, and jobs, yet it also shrinks the supply of homes and pushes rents higher. Accra’s housing crisis has deep structural causes, but short-term rentals have added fuel to the fire.

The solution? Regulate without strangling. Protect residents without banning opportunity. Done right, tourism and affordable housing can coexist. Done wrong, Accra becomes a city for visitors, not for those who call it home.

The future will not be decided by whether Airbnb exists, but by whether Ghana manages growth wisely. A successful city must work for investors, visitors, and residents alike. Failure risks turning housing from a necessity into a luxury.

Board Chairman of the college, Addai Amankwa, is seeking urgent support to address critical infrastructure and welfare challenges affecting the institution.

According to him, inadequate security, an unstable power supply, insufficient water systems, and limited accommodation facilities continue to hamper the smooth operation of the college and the academic progress of students.

He noted that both the Ayinaso Campus and the main campus require enhanced security measures to protect students and staff.

“We need security urgently to help improve safety on both campuses. We also need a power plant. When the lights go off, students are left stranded and things become difficult for us. We need a power plant so that things go well,” he said.

The Board Chairman further explained that the growing student population has overstretched the institution’s water supply system, making it necessary to invest in sustainable water solutions.

He also expressed concern about the accommodation deficit, revealing that many students are forced to stay in rented houses outside campus, where they often face security threats.

“With the numbers we have now, the water supply is not enough. We need sustainable systems that can support our students. The hostels are congested, and many of our students stay in rented houses.

“They are attacked at any time. We appeal to the government, corporate institutions, alumni, and all stakeholders to support the college in addressing these challenges,” Mr. Amankwa appealed.

Addressing students during the event, the Principal of the college, Dr. Albert Opoku, urged students to remain disciplined, focused, and committed to their academic pursuits.

“Fear God and uphold your moral values. Respect your tutors, staff, and colleagues. Study consistently and avoid procrastination. Choose your friends wisely and remember why you came here,” he stated.

The Principal also paid tribute to his predecessor for laying a strong foundation for the institution’s development, stressing that leadership is about continuity and building upon existing achievements.

But self-employment comes with a learning curve and most business owners will make a few mistakes along the way. Learning from these mistakes is important, and often some of these mistakes are ignoring administrative responsibilities until they become urgent.

Once you know what to look for, most of the common errors can be avoided. Requirements such as Making Tax Digital for self assessment, bookkeeping, invoicing and record keeping are all important parts of running a business.

These tasks may not be the most exciting aspect of being self-employed, but staying organised through the year will prevent a great deal of stress for you later on. Many business owners quickly discover that paperwork really disappears simply because it’s ignored.

Another common mistake is failing to separate your business and personal finances. When everything is running through the same account, it becomes a lot harder to track it.

Income, expenses and profitability will get mixed up and your morning coffees that you don’t spend on your business account will suddenly start looking like a business expense. Having a dedicated account often makes financial management fast, simpler and provides you a clearer picture of how the business is performing.

Image source: Pexels

Plenty of people go to self-employment thinking that they need to undercut the market to be relevant, but underpricing your services is another trap that many self-employed people will fall into.

This is particularly something that happens at the beginning. It’s natural to want to attract people with low prices, but consistently charging too little will make it difficult to cover the costs or any sustainable income. You are running a business, not a charity.

So, pricing should reflect the value of your skills, experience, time, and expenses. While competitive pricing is important, it shouldn’t come at the expense of profitability.

Another mistake you should avoid is trying to do it all yourself. Marketing, bookkeeping, customer service, admin, sales, and project delivery are all separate departments, and they can become very overwhelming when you’re wearing all of the hats of one.

Learning when to outsource or seek professional support will significantly improve your efficiency. Sometimes spending money to save time is one of the smart decisions that you could make.

Another frequent issue. Neglecting marketing when work becomes busy, it can feel logical to focus entirely on current projects. But with marketing stops completely, the future work will dry up.

Business owners maintain some level of marketing activity even during busy periods. Consistent visibility helps to create a steady flow of opportunities over time.

Speaking of time, poor time management also creates problems, and it’s a mistake that you could be making without clear routines. Many self-employed people find themselves constantly switching between tasks or working far longer hours than is necessary. You need to set your priorities and create a schedule to work with it.

Mistakes are a normal part of self-employment. Every business owner learns through experience and most challenges provide valuable lessons. The key is to recognize the pitfalls and not fall into them yourself.

Dr Leat said discussions during a meeting with Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene on Sunday, June 7, 2026, had progressed positively, with indications that the industrial action could soon be called off.

However, the mood shifted sharply when they saw a statement issued by the Ministry of Health defending the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo.

The Ministry described the industrial action as “unfortunate” and maintained that the CEO’s suspension was a necessary administrative decision taken in the interest of accountability, patient safety, and compliance with established health sector procedures.

Dr Leat, in an interview with Citi News, said the timing and content of the statement angered striking members and brought the constructive engagement to an abrupt end.

“In the course of our discussion to see the next step, we saw a release from the Minister for Health which threw off the discussion. In fact, people were angry and we had to end the meeting. As it stands, we are still on strike. We will still be taking steps to make sure we go back to our people, talk to them through more discussions and see how best we come out positively,” he said.

The development contradicts an earlier claim by Dr Amoakohene, who told the media that a positive resolution had been reached following his meeting with the leadership of doctors, nurses, and midwives.

The strike began on Saturday, June 6, after Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh suspended Dr Baidoo over a directive he had issued to temporarily halt new admissions at the Accident and Emergency Unit due to congestion.

The KATH chapter of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association later joined the action, intensifying the standoff and nearly bringing services to a halt at one of Ghana’s busiest referral hospitals.

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In a letter to staff issued by the Office of the Chief Executive on Monday, June 8, 2026, Dr. Baidoo expressed gratitude to the staff for what he described as their “show of solidarity” during the industrial action, which has disrupted services at the facility.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all staff of the hospital for your show of solidarity with me during this period. I am very grateful for your support,” the letter said.

However, he urged the workers to resume duty in the interest of patients and the nation.

“I need you all to return to duty in the supreme interest of Ghanaians and our valued patients, whilst I defer the outcome and directions to the supreme wisdom of the Hon. Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the Board of KATH,” he stated.

Dr. Baidoo’s appeal comes amid disruptions to healthcare delivery at the hospital, with patients reportedly facing challenges in accessing medical services due to the industrial action.

The development follows a directive issued by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on June 5, 2026, instructing the Board of KATH to suspend Dr. Baidoo for two weeks with immediate effect.

The directive, contained in a letter dated June 5, stated that the CEO’s decision to announce a temporary suspension of emergency admissions at the hospital was inconsistent with instructions issued by John Dramani Mahama regarding the management of the situation at the facility.

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The situation has triggered widespread disruption at one of Ghana’s largest referral health facilities, with patients and relatives struggling to access medical care.

The protest follows the Ministry of Health’s decision to suspend the CEO for two weeks, a move the Ministry says is intended to allow for independent investigations into the circumstances surrounding the temporary closure of the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Centre.

In a statement, the Ministry defended the suspension, stressing that it is an administrative measure aimed at ensuring accountability and clarity over the decision to temporarily shut down the 37-bed emergency facility.

The Ministry has also appealed to health professionals at the hospital to return to duty, warning that the disruption is affecting vulnerable patients who rely on the facility for critical care.

However, doctors and nurses at KATH are reportedly maintaining their position, leaving large numbers of patients stranded at the OPD.

JOY NEWS reports from the hospital described scenes of confusion as patients waited for hours without being attended to.

Meanwhile, the Health Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC-Ghana), KATH branch, has issued a statement backing the stance of the medical staff, further complicating efforts to restore normal operations.

The ongoing standoff comes amid growing tension over the suspension of the CEO, which followed the temporary shutdown of the Accident and Emergency Centre due to congestion and operational challenges.

Authorities are yet to indicate when full services are expected to resume, as pressure mounts on all sides to resolve the impasse and restore healthcare delivery at the facility.

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Speaking on Joy FM’s Home Affairs programme on Saturday, June 6, Dr Amoah challenged the long-held perception that fertility challenges are primarily linked to women.

According to him, advances in medical research have revealed that male fertility issues are more common than previously believed.

“Historically, we say that it’s women who give birth and we did a lot for women in resolving issues of fertility, only for us to realise that, in actual fact, men have more problems,” he said.

Dr Amoah noted that recent data indicates a rising prevalence of male infertility, with men increasingly accounting for a significant share of fertility-related challenges globally.

He further warned that scientific studies continue to show a steady decline in sperm quality around the world, describing the trend as a major public health concern.

“In fact, worldwide, the quality of sperm is decreasing,” he stated.

The fertility specialist attributed the trend to a combination of modern lifestyle and environmental factors, including increasing stress levels, urbanisation and unhealthy lifestyle choices.

According to him, these factors are having a growing impact on male reproductive health and are influencing fertility patterns in both developed and developing countries.

Dr Amoah stressed the need for greater awareness of male fertility issues and encouraged men to pay closer attention to their reproductive health as part of efforts to address infertility challenges.

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The concern follows a recent incident at the Tema Community 22 Polyclinic, where a nurse was allegedly assaulted by a relative of a patient after enforcing visiting-hour regulations. The nurse had reportedly asked the individual to leave the ward when visiting hours ended, leading to the attack.

Speaking at the Association’s 33rd Annual Delegates Congress held at Ejisu Krapa, the Ashanti-Brong Ahafo Zone (ASHBA) President, Abankwa Takyiawa, described the incident as deeply troubling.

“When our professionals are attacked for doing their job, it sends the wrong message to the next generation. Nursing is about saving lives, and we cannot allow fear to drive people away from this noble profession,” he said.

Mr Takyiawa called on hospital authorities, the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health to implement stronger measures to protect nurses and midwives, including enhanced security at health facilities and stricter enforcement of policies against violence towards health workers.

He also urged the public to respect healthcare professionals and comply with facility regulations, stressing that nurses often work under intense pressure and deserve a safe working environment.

The congress, held under the theme, “Trained to Save, United to Serve: Leadership in Action for Trainee Nurses and Midwives,” brought together nursing trainees and key stakeholders to discuss issues affecting the profession.

Mr Takyiawa reiterated the Association’s commitment to advocating for the welfare and safety of nurses and midwives, warning that the country risks losing skilled healthcare professionals if such attacks continue.

He further appealed to the National Service Authority (NSA) to extend the deadline for graduate nurses and midwives to obtain their national service PIN codes.

According to him, although the registration exercise ran from May 25 to June 5, 2026, many prospective graduates were unable to access their PINs due to challenges associated with new verification measures.

He explained that the National Service Authority now requires applicants’ Ghana Card details to match information on their school records as part of efforts to sanitise the system.

Meanwhile, the Second Vice President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and Patron of the Trainees Association, Mr Daniel Attah-Tuffour, urged newly graduated nurses and midwives to explore entrepreneurial and skills-based opportunities after completing their national service.

He cautioned graduates against relying solely on government employment, noting that the public sector job market is saturated.

“The government employment net is choked, and it could take newly qualified nurses and midwives between three and four years to secure employment within the public sector,” he said.

Mr Attah-Tuffour explained that nurses and midwives possess valuable skills that can be applied beyond traditional hospital settings, including home healthcare, wellness services, health education and private practice.

He encouraged graduates to invest in additional skills training, establish small-scale enterprises and create opportunities for themselves while awaiting formal employment.

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This was disclosed when the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, toured the busy Aflao and Elubo border posts to assess Ghana’s response strategy following an outbreak of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo in mid-May.

Dr Ayensu-Danquah, who is a clinician and surgeon, pledged swift government action to address identified gaps and strengthen response mechanisms, adding that President John Dramani Mahama had directed the Ministry of Health to ensure the country remains fully prepared for any potential outbreak.

“As a government, it is our duty to ensure that our country and the citizens are safe, and that is what we are doing by assessing our response mechanism to this deadly disease,” she said.

Congo Outbreak

The Deputy Minister’s tour forms part of broader efforts by government to reinforce disease surveillance and response capacity amid rising regional health risks, following Ebola cases reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other central African countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in May, declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, underscoring the urgency of Ghana’s preparedness measures to protect citizens and prevent cross-border transmission.

Screening And Isolation Measures

At the Aflao and Elubo border crossings, the Deputy Minister engaged security agencies, port health officials and local authorities, and reviewed screening procedures, isolation facilities and coordination mechanisms designed to detect and contain any suspected cases.

Officials briefed her that screening, surveillance and isolation protocols were already in place, indicating Ghana’s preparedness to respond to potential cases.

However, health and local authorities also highlighted challenges, including inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), limited staffing, and deteriorating infrastructure established during the COVID-19 response period.

Dr Ayensu-Danquah assured that government is moving swiftly to address these gaps, with plans to provide modern, fully equipped border health facilities and increase investment in personnel, logistics and essential supplies to strengthen frontline response systems.

“The government remains committed to ensuring robust surveillance, screening and response mechanisms are in place to protect the health and safety of Ghanaians,” she said during inspections of screening points, isolation centres and municipal health facilities.

Health Security Agenda

The tour forms part of a broader government agenda to strengthen health security, particularly at points of entry where cross-border movement increases the risk of disease importation.

Government has prioritised investments in primary healthcare, disease surveillance and frontline infrastructure, alongside ongoing reforms aimed at improving service delivery and emergency preparedness.

Beyond infrastructure assessment, the visit also sought to improve coordination among key agencies including the Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and regional health directorates, while identifying resource and training needs to enhance emergency response capacity.

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The ​confirmed ​cases ‌include 91 deaths, ​government ​data showed.

The World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention announced a $518 million emergency response plan on Friday aimed at containing the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The plan, which runs through November, covers emergency coordination, surveillance, testing, infection prevention, clinical care and community outreach.

It came as the DRC’s Ministry of Health reported 71 new confirmed cases in a single 24-hour stretch this week, bringing the country’s confirmed total to at least 452 cases and 82 deaths. Uganda confirmed three additional cases on Friday, putting its total at 19 confirmed cases and two deaths.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier this week that health officials were “catching up” with the virus, even as he acknowledged it had a “big head start.” Tedros also pushed back against blanket travel bans put in place by some countries, warning that they could discourage transparency and disrupt the response.

Frustrations also remain over U.S. plans to open a controversial Ebola isolation facility in Kenya. Proposals to establish a 50-bed quarantine facility for U.S. citizens affected by the outbreak in DRC have provoked a public backlash in Kenya, although the country’s president, William Ruto, said the plan was safe. Two people were reportedly killed last week amid a protest close to the Laikipia Air Base, where the facility is due to be placed.

Kenya’s high court temporarily blocked the quarantine facility, citing public health concerns. Some U.S. health experts have also criticized the plan after the Trump administration said it was determined to ensure the virus did not cross U.S. borders.

The figure was contained in a regional sanitation situation report and was based on health screenings conducted among food handlers in 2025 and 2026.

The report was presented by Agambire Alhassan Inusah, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Upper West Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Department (EHSD), during the second-quarter meeting of the Upper West Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on Sanitation (RICCS) in Wa.

According to the report, 538 food handlers were screened in 2025, while 1,208 underwent screening between January and May 2026.

Mr Inusah disclosed that the affected individuals had been referred to health facilities for treatment.

He added that the department had intensified food safety and sanitation interventions across the region, including inspections of food and beverage vendors as well as the prosecution of sanitation offenders.

The report indicated that 3,425 premises were inspected in 2025, while 4,821 premises were inspected between January and May 2026.

Similarly, inspections of food and drink establishments increased from 742 in 2025 to 891 within the first five months of 2026.

On meat safety, Mr Inusah said 3,928 animals slaughtered during the review period were inspected by the department in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Veterinary Services Department.

Out of the total, 3,873 carcasses were certified fit for human consumption, while four were totally condemned and 51 partially condemned due to health concerns.

Providing updates on the Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign, Mr Inusah said three communities attained ODF status in 2025, comprising two in the Lambussie District and one in the Sissala West District.

He added that 15 more communities achieved ODF status between January and May 2026, including nine in the Nandom District and six in the Lambussie District.

On sanitation law enforcement, he said the Wa Municipal Assembly prosecuted four sanitation-related cases during the review period and imposed fines on offenders as part of efforts to improve environmental sanitation.

Despite the gains made, Mr Inusah noted that inadequate staffing remained a major challenge affecting effective service delivery across the region.

Reacting to the report, the Upper West Regional Director of the EHSD, Madam Freda Naatu, said it had in some cases been difficult to prevent affected individuals from continuing to handle food despite being declared medically unfit.

She announced plans to introduce sanitation league tables for schools and zonal councils to assess performance, reward high-performing institutions and “name and shame” underperforming ones as part of efforts to improve sanitation standards in the region.

In a statement, the Ministry explained that the suspension was not intended as punishment but rather an administrative measure to ensure accountability and facilitate an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the announced closure of the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Centre.

According to the Ministry, the decision followed Dr. Baidoo’s public announcement of the cessation of admissions at the emergency unit without prior approval from the hospital’s Governing Board or the Ministry.

The Ministry maintained that the action was inconsistent with a directive issued by President John Dramani Mahama, which requires all public health facilities to continue providing emergency healthcare services and prohibits them from turning away patients under any circumstances.

Officials clarified that the suspension relates solely to Dr. Baidoo’s role as Chief Executive Officer and does not affect his position as a medical practitioner at the hospital.

The statement further stressed that the matter is unrelated to internal arrangements between the hospital and the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, contrary to claims circulating in the public domain.

The Ministry expressed concern that the closure of a major emergency facility at one of Ghana’s leading referral hospitals could have serious implications for patient care and therefore required strict adherence to established administrative procedures.

While acknowledging the operational challenges facing the Accident and Emergency Centre, the Ministry noted that decisions with national implications for healthcare delivery must be properly coordinated with the relevant authorities.

The Ministry also appealed to members of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association and the Nurses Chapter to reconsider their industrial action and return to work while discussions continue.

It emphasised that dialogue remains the most appropriate avenue for resolving grievances and ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services for the public.

Meanwhile, the Ministry disclosed that the Ghana Health Service has been directed to implement immediate measures to guarantee the continued provision of emergency healthcare services during the impasse.

The statement highlighted several ongoing interventions aimed at improving healthcare delivery across the country, including hospital retooling, the introduction of a National Bed Management System, efforts to operationalise selected Agenda 111 projects, and the establishment of cardiac catheterisation laboratories at KATH, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Tamale Teaching Hospital.

The Ministry further revealed that work on the Sewua Hospital project is progressing steadily and is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.

Reaffirming its commitment to both patients and health workers, the Ministry said it remains focused on ensuring a safe working environment while safeguarding access to quality healthcare services nationwide.

In a statement issued on Sunday, June 7, 2026, and signed by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, the Minority said the suspension would neither create additional beds nor fix a broken referral system.

The caucus argued that the pressure on KATH is not primarily a leadership problem but the result of years of delayed and abandoned health infrastructure projects.

“The persistent ‘No Bed Syndrome’ is not fundamentally a leadership problem at KATH. It is a capacity problem. It is an infrastructure problem. It is a referral system problem. It is a health workforce and resource allocation problem,” the statement read.

The statement pointed out that the previous administration had made significant investments to ease the burden on KATH, including operationalising the 500-bed Afari Military Hospital and substantially completing the 250-bed Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua.

They questioned why the government had not prioritised the full operationalisation of these facilities instead of suspending a hospital CEO.

The statement also drew particular attention to two 100-bed hospitals commissioned in 2024 with accident and emergency services, surgical theatres, maternity wards, and diagnostic facilities to absorb demand from KATH, the Trede District Hospital and the Kokoben-Oforikrom District Hospital. Unfortunately, both facilities remain largely non-operational.

“It is therefore difficult to understand how Government can justify suspending the CEO of KATH for challenges arising from excess demand when two fully completed 100-bed hospitals, specifically built to absorb part of that demand, remain unable to provide the services for which they were constructed,” the statement said.

The Minority further issued five specific demands to government:

1. The immediate revocation of the KATH CEO’s suspension pending the outcome of any independent investigation.
2. The immediate operationalisation of all completed health facilities intended to ease pressure on KATH, particularly the 300-bed Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua and the 100-bed Agenda 111 hospitals at Trede and Kokoben-Oforikrom.
3. Concrete action on concerns raised by the Ghana Medical Association regarding structural causes of the no-bed crisis, including workforce shortages and referral bottlenecks.
4. A shift away from what the Minority described as a “Rambo-style” approach to leadership in the health sector, urging the Health Minister to adopt a more consultative and professional stance.
5. Accelerated completion of all stalled hospital projects across the country.

Call off strike -NLC orders KATH doctors

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The order comes from the National Labour Commission (NLC), which described the industrial action as unlawful and not in compliance with the provisions of Ghana’s labour laws.

The NLC, in a statement issued on Saturday, June 6, 2026, said the decision to embark on the strike was communicated through a letter dated June 5, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the Board of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), with copies sent to key government officials including the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Health.

“According to the notice, KADA is displeased with some operational and administrative decisions/actions and for these the Association has declared the industrial action.”

The Commission, however, noted that the notice failed to comply with the legal procedures governing the declaration of industrial action in Ghana.

“KADA is advised that the notice was improperly served because it was not compliant with the relevant provisions of the Labour Law. Consequently, the Commission in exercise of its powers under section 139(d) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) directs KADA to call off the strike immediately as the action contravenes sections 162 and 163 of Act 651,” the NLC ordered.

The statement further summoned parties involved to appear before the Commission on Wednesday, 10th June, 2026 at 2pm  for a hearing of the issues in dispute

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The position was announced in a statement issued on Saturday, June 6, 2026, following an emergency meeting of the Association’s National Executive Council (NEC).

According to the GMA, it fully endorses the decision by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) to withdraw services until the suspension of the CEO is reversed.

The Association also criticised the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, accusing him of making comments that could incite public sentiment against health workers.

Defending the actions of KATH management that led to the suspension, the GMA argued that the temporary halt in new emergency admissions and the redirection of patients to nearby health facilities were appropriate measures taken in the interest of patient safety.

The Association maintained that the decision was consistent with best practices in healthcare administration and emergency management.

According to the statement, the measures did not amount to abandoning patients or disregarding directives from the President.

“Rather, the actions redirected patients and ensured they received safe and timely care at nearby hospitals with support from specialists from KATH,” the Association stated.

The GMA noted that the coordinated intervention, involving the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, the Regional Coordinating Council, healthcare facilities, and health workers, helped decongest the Accident and Emergency Centre and enabled the resumption of new admissions within 24 hours.

The Association therefore concluded that the initial query issued to the CEO and the subsequent suspension directive were unwarranted.

“Council, therefore, is of the considered view that the initial query issued and subsequent directive for suspension were without basis and ought not to have been occasioned,” the statement said.

The GMA is demanding the immediate withdrawal of the directive to suspend the CEO and his reinstatement within three working days.

It further reiterated its support for KADA’s industrial action, stating that the strike will continue until the suspension is reversed and concrete steps are taken to improve emergency healthcare capacity in the Kumasi enclave.

The action was announced by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) following an emergency meeting on June 5, 2026, to review recent developments at the hospital, including congestion at the Emergency Department and the suspension of the CEO.

In a statement to the Chairman of the KATH Board, the association expressed disappointment that measures taken by management to handle overwhelming patient numbers and ensure safe care had resulted in disciplinary action against the hospital’s leadership.

According to the doctors, the temporary suspension of new emergency admissions and the diversion of patients to other facilities were necessary steps to prevent avoidable deaths amid severe pressure on the hospital’s resources.

KADA noted that KATH, which serves as a major referral centre for Ghana’s middle and northern regions, continues to face longstanding challenges including inadequate infrastructure and rising patient numbers, describing the current crisis as a reflection of broader systemic issues in the health sector.

The association argued that addressing these challenges requires urgent investment and policy intervention rather than sanctions against administrators managing difficult conditions.

Following deliberations, members unanimously condemned the CEO’s suspension and resolved to withdraw services effective 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

The doctors say the industrial action will remain in force until their key demands are met, including a review and reversal of the CEO’s suspension.

They are also calling on the KATH Board to establish clear protocols for handling situations where emergency capacity is exceeded.

Additionally, KADA is urging the Ministry of Health to provide clear timelines for the operationalisation of the Sewua Hospital and Afari Military Hospital, as well as a roadmap for upgrading KATH and other health facilities in the Ashanti Region to ease pressure on the referral centre.

The directive, contained in a letter dated June 5, 2026, cites the CEO’s announcement on the suspension of admissions of emergency cases at the facility as the reason for the disciplinary action.

According to the Minister, the CEO acted contrary to directives issued by President John Mahama when he announced the suspension of emergency admissions at the hospital on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

“Pursuant to Section 36 (1) of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act, 1996 (Act 526), I am respectfully directing the Board to suspend the Chief Executive Officer for a period of two (2) weeks with immediate effect, for causing to be announced the suspension of admissions of emergency cases to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on Wednesday, June 3, 2026,” the letter stated.

The Health Minister further revealed that a meeting attended by the Chief Director, Technical Advisor and Legal Advisor of the Ministry had determined that the CEO’s actions were inconsistent with the President’s directives.

In addition to the suspension, Mr Akandoh has instructed the Board to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding both the announcement and a media interview granted by the Head of Public Affairs Unit of KATH to Channel One News.

According to the Minister, the Public Affairs Unit also acted contrary to presidential directives by commenting publicly on the suspension of admissions.

“I am also respectfully requesting you to undertake a thorough investigation to establish on what authority he made those comments on Channel One Newsroom. Further whether it was a management decision for him to grant the said interview. Where necessary the appropriate sanctions should be applied,” the Minister directed.

The Board has been asked to submit a report on its findings within two weeks.

The development follows public concern over the temporary suspension of emergency admissions at the Kumasi-based referral hospital amid challenges affecting healthcare delivery at the facility.

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