This was the second in a series of such collaborations, the first having taken place in Accra.

In an address before the start of the screening, Mrs Mahama encouraged traditional and religious leaders to leverage their respected positions to promote healthy and responsible behaviour within their communities.

The First Lady noted that Ghana remains committed to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, a goal she said is achievable if every individual plays their part.

“Parents must engage in open and honest conversations with their children about health and sexuality,” she stressed, urging teachers to guide students with care, wisdom, and accurate information to help eliminate the stigma surrounding HIV.

Currently, over 334,000 Ghanaians are living with HIV, with the Bono Region among the most affected areas. The First Lady described this as a serious concern and called for education, prevention, and early testing to curb new infections.

As President of the Lordina Foundation, Mrs Mahama emphasised that health is the foundation of development. “Without good health, productivity suffers, and building vibrant communities becomes difficult,” she said.

Highlighting the importance of health screening programmes, she added: “I love bringing health services closer to people because when we invest in health, we invest in our collective future.”

Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Budu II, Dormaahene and President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, expressed concern over the rising HIV cases in the Bono Region in recent years, particularly among people aged 25 to 40.

He described the screening programme as a crucial health initiative rather than a political exercise, encouraging all attendees to take advantage of the testing and educational resources provided.

Sister Diana, who has been living with HIV since 1989, shared her experience battling stigma due to limited awareness. She emphasised that with proper care and monitoring, people living with HIV can lead healthy lives.

“My children’s support gave me strength,” she said, “and motivated me to educate others as an ambassador for HIV awareness.”

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Presenting the budget to Parliament on Wednesday, November 13, Dr. Forson announced plans to construct six new regional hospitals for the newly created regions, starting with three in 2026, alongside two district hospitals at Bole and Shama.

In addition, ten previously abandoned Agenda 111 hospital projects will be completed, including facilities at La General, Effia Nkwanta, the Komfo Anokye Maternity Block, and Ashanti Regional Hospital in Sewua.

To improve maternal and child health services, seven hospitals will be upgraded, while technology integration and infrastructure modernization aim to build an efficient, inclusive, and resilient healthcare system.

Dr. Forson also highlighted the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares), established under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Act, 2025 (Act 1144), to provide sustainable financing for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and specialized medical services.

In 2026, MahamaCares will introduce a comprehensive NCD financing policy covering eligible conditions, approved services, tariffs, and essential medicines, ensuring patients receive uninterrupted care without high out-of-pocket expenses. Diagnostic and treatment centers will also be established on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis in major hospitals nationwide.

“These interventions will move Ghana from treatment to prevention, from inequality to access, and from promise to performance, ensuring no Ghanaian is left behind,” Dr. Forson stated.

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The disruption has forced doctors and health professionals to abandon electronic systems and rely on rudimentary tools like exercise books and patient folders to log new medical data, leading to long queues and threatening the quality of patient care.https://www.youtube.com/embed/0p4IwnK9aGU?si=lbCpVmij-9qkovV1

The government, through the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, lamented the shutdown and announced a new Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) to replace the old system following disputes with the provider of LHIMS.

The move was justified by claims that the LHIMS contractors failed to deliver on their mandate, including connecting over 900 health facilities to the platform and other contractual breaches.

Dr. Elliot Koranteng, a nephrologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), highlighted the grave implications of the data loss in an interview with JoyNews’ Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe, who assessed the impact of the development in the Ashanti Region.

Dr Koranteng stressed that without historical records, doctors are effectively “tied” in their ability to diagnose and manage chronic illnesses.

Dr. Koranteng detailed the immediate difficulty faced by specialists managing conditions like kidney disease:

“…we had to virtually tell the patient that, listen, we are unable to assess [the system]. So those of you who have ever come, you may have to go [home], and those who remember your medications, then we may have to now write your own medications…

“…for me as a nephrologist, whatever has happened to your kidney function, whether it’s improving or getting worse, I will be able to tell if I’m able to see what your last lab result was. But now, even if you present [a result] today and your creatinine is, say, 200, the question is, I cannot be hard on you because I don’t know whether you have come from 300 to 200 or you have probably gone from 100 to 200…”

He emphasised that clinical decisions are impossible without the full patient history:

“…the difficulty is the fact that if you don’t have the record, you would not even know what you are managing because you don’t know the diagnosis; the diagnosis is not in our heads.”

The specialist also raised serious concerns about the technical and ethical implications of replacing one Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system with another, noting the irony that once-abandoned physical folders now seem more reliable than the electronic infrastructure.

“So now the question is, we have LHIMS cards for these patients. Are we going to now get new cards for these ones? How do we link the new cards to the GHIMS card and be able to ensure there’s continuity of care…

“…it’s disappointing that gone are the days when we were using folders. I think now the folders are becoming more reliable because now we’re going back to the exercise book, which is like the folder, than when now we are using electronic medical records, which were supposed to be more reliable…”

Dr. Koranteng condemned the systemic risk created by such abrupt changes, which places patient safety at risk:

“…that one day a company says or maybe a government says okay now I don’t want this old one again,’ and then a new one comes and says okay I also don’t want GHIMS because there was whatever…then what are we doing to ourselves as a country and this medical record or data of our patients is sacrosanct; it’s like so important without the data, we are useless. We cannot manage them [patients].”

Beyond clinical care, the lost data is also threatening vital academic and scientific work, as years of historical patient information—crucial for longitudinal studies—have vanished:

“To make matters even worse, there are a lot of studies that are going on that require this data… Now, where is the data? So a lot of grants or a lot of research that rely on this data are going to suffer.”

Health professionals are calling for the immediate restoration of the data system to mitigate the ongoing harm to patient management and research integrity.

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Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Dr. Ashinyo explained that the expired condoms formed part of large consignments meant to promote safer sex among women, but poor patronage rendered most of them unused.

“We bought a lot of female condoms in the past, but they were not being used. Over time they expired, and we had to throw them away. Now, procurement is done in very small quantities because the demand is not there,” he said.

According to him, social and cultural attitudes continue to discourage women from using female condoms. Many, he said, associate them with mistrust and promiscuity.

“Many women believe that wearing female condoms means they cannot be trusted by their partners, so they would rather rely on male condoms. The desire and interest to use the female condoms are just not there,” Dr. Ashinyo added.

He also expressed concern about the misuse of female condoms, revealing that some women remove the rims to design bangles and clothes, while others complain about discomfort and overstimulation when using them.

Dr. Ashinyo warned that low condom use—especially among women—poses a threat to Ghana’s fight against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.

“Condoms serve as a biomedical protective tool that collects secretions containing viruses. When people don’t use them, those secretions come into direct contact during intercourse, increasing the risk of infection,” he noted.

The low demand, he said, has affected the supply chain, with pharmacies and public health facilities now stocking only limited quantities. He called for renewed public education and advocacy to address misconceptions and encourage female condom use as part of national HIV prevention efforts.

According to the 2024 National and Sub-National HIV and AIDS Estimates and Projections Report, about 334,721 people are currently living with HIV in Ghana. The country recorded 15,290 new infections and 12,614 AIDS-related deaths last year.

The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, said new infections among the youth are rising due to low condom usage and complacency about HIV risks.

To reverse the trend, he announced plans to install condom dispensing machines at public spaces such as transport terminals, university campuses, and youth events to increase accessibility.

“A person living with HIV still fears disclosure, still fears ostracism, and still fears for their future. We must challenge this,” Dr. Akanbong urged, calling on Ghanaians to treat people living with HIV with dignity and respect.

Globally, HIV has claimed an estimated 44.1 million lives as of July 2025, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The agency notes that while transmission remains widespread, effective prevention and antiretroviral therapy (ART) continue to offer hope for managing and reducing infections.

Source: GNA

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Agyei said the company feels “deeply hurt” after working selflessly on Ghana’s national e-health project since 2016.

“We have worked with the Ministry for years, so we never thought we would face such issues,” he lamented.

Mr. Agyei explained that all Lightwave staff are based in Ghana and have continued to support the healthcare digitization agenda.

He added that the company had hoped for appreciation rather than hostility after years of commitment.

“All our staff are in this country, and we have reassigned them. It’s painful, and we have expressed this to the minister. If nothing else, we deserve to be thanked for our work over the past years. The way we have been treated has not been kind.

“We have collaborated with the Ministry for years, so we never expected to encounter issues with them. We hope the minister will relax the situation so we can go through the necessary processes and adhere to the contract,” he added.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Agyei described the allegation as “completely false.”

He explained that all data infrastructure for the system is based in Ghana, specifically on the first floor of the Ministry of Health in Accra.

“Our system has been operational for over nine years, from the first phase till now. The claim that our data backend is in India is false. It is at the Ministry of Health’s server room. Every hospital has its own server, and the backup for all facilities is stored at the Ministry,” he clarified.

Mr. Agyei stressed that Lightwave is the only company whose source code and data are fully hosted within Ghana’s health sector, ensuring data sovereignty and security.

He also dismissed reports that the company shut down its systems to pressure the government, explaining that any temporary disruptions were the result of facility-level issues and not actions by Lightwave.

“The claim that we shut down the system to hold government to ransom is untrue. It was the health facilities that went offline due to their own issues with the Ministry,” he said.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Agyei clarified that Lightwave has completed about 82% of the project, contrary to the Minister’s assertion that only a small fraction of hospitals had been covered.

“The Minister said we have done only 150 hospitals out of 905, but that’s misleading. One teaching hospital is equivalent to about 100 health centres. The agreement was structured in phases: 21% for teaching hospitals, 22% for regional hospitals, and 29% for district hospitals, all of which we’ve completed,” he explained.

He added that the company has finished all district hospitals and polyclinics under the contract, accounting for 82% of the entire scope of work.

“Therefore, the government is supposed to pay us $82 million, not because we’ve been overpaid, but because we’ve completed 82% of the work,” he stressed.

Mr. Agyei described the Minister’s comments as “misleading and disappointing,” noting that the contract details are well-documented and known to the ministry.

He further stated that with timely payments, Lightwave could complete about 50 additional health centres within a month, reaffirming the company’s commitment to delivering the project successfully.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, the company’s Senior Project Manager, Eric Agyei, clarified that Lightwave is a wholly Ghanaian-owned company with no foreign interests.

“We are a 100% Ghanaian-owned company with over 150 Ghanaian staff. We officially began operations in November 2015, and our first government contract came in 2016 during President Mahama’s administration,” Mr. Agyei stated.

He explained that Lightwave’s first pilot project, implemented across 23 hospitals in the Central Region, successfully tested the digital healthcare solution at all levels of the health system.

Following that success, the project was expanded nationwide from 2019, covering more than 950 hospitals within three years.

Mr. Agyei stressed that the company’s achievements highlight the capability of local firms to deliver innovative technological solutions in Ghana’s health sector.

“Our pilot project in the Central Region involved 23 hospitals and was successful across all levels of healthcare. After the first phase in 2017, we had to wait until 2019 for the next phase, influenced by the subsequent government. However, we eventually expanded our services nationwide, reaching 950 hospitals within three years,” he said.

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The alarming situation has raised serious concerns among health workers and residents, who are appealing to the government and relevant stakeholders to intervene urgently.

According to reports from Adom News’ Daniel Tachie, hospital staff say the current labour ward is too small to handle the rising number of deliveries, leaving midwives and doctors struggling to provide safe and dignified care.

Dr. Evans Narh Dotcher, Acting Medical Director of the facility, described the situation as “deeply troubling and unacceptable.”

“We are doing our best to save lives, but the environment is not conducive. Sometimes women in labour have to lie on the floor because all beds are occupied. It breaks our hearts as health workers,” he lamented.

Some affected mothers also shared their distressing experiences.

“When I came to deliver, there was no bed available. I had to lie on the floor until space opened up. It was painful and humiliating,” one woman recounted.

The hospital, which serves Yeji and surrounding communities, has seen a rapid increase in patient numbers without a corresponding expansion in infrastructure. Health officials warn that the situation poses serious risks to both mothers and newborns.

A Senior Midwife, Madam Vivian Baffoe, has called on the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and development partners to construct a modern maternity ward to ensure safe and dignified deliveries.

“Maternal health should be a top priority. No woman should go through labour on the floor. We are pleading with authorities to come to our aid,” she appealed.

Residents remain hopeful that urgent action will be taken to ease the suffering of pregnant women and improve maternal healthcare at Yeji Matthias Hospital.

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Speaking to Adom News during a monitoring visit to Ntotroso, where she was accompanied by the District Chief Executive, the Minister said the initiative seeks to register about 10,000 people as active NHIS members under the MahamaCares programme.

According to her, the exercise targets individuals who have never been enrolled on the scheme as well as those whose cards have become inactive due to financial challenges.

She emphasized that the registration drive will cover all communities within the district.

“We want everyone, regardless of financial status, to have access to quality healthcare. This initiative will make that possible,” said Charity Gardiner, Ahafo Regional Minister.

The District Chief Executive, Hafiz Dauda, and the Asutifi District NHIS Manager, Joseph Sarkodie, commended the Minister’s initiative and encouraged residents to take advantage of the free registration.

They confirmed that the exercise will be extended to all 68 communities in the district, with a target of enrolling 10,000 new members by the end of 2025.

“This is a commendable effort to ensure no one is left out of healthcare coverage,” Hafiz Dauda and Joseph Sarkodie stated.

Source: Sammy Asare

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He said the future of HIV programming depended on the country’s ability to mobilise domestic resources, strengthen partnerships, and sustain political, financial, and social commitment to ending AIDS.

Speaking at the launch of the 2025 World AIDS Day in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Essamuah urged private sector involvement, noting that HIV affects workforce productivity and economic growth.

“The private sector must rise to the challenge by investing in workplace HIV programmes, supporting awareness and testing campaigns,” he said.

Acting Director-General of the GAC, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, said Ghana must respond to global economic pressures and address persistent barriers in HIV prevention, especially considering declining donor support.

He appealed to Ghanaians to contribute to the National HIV and AIDS Fund, stating, “Ghana must mobilise, innovate and lead the HIV response.”

Dr Akanbong condemned stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV.

“HIV is a health condition that is manageable, and people living with HIV have the right to dignity, respect and full participation in society,” he said.

Dr Akanbong described this year’s global theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” as reflective of Ghana’s current challenges.

“Across the globe, and here in Ghana, our HIV response has encountered significant disruptions: funding constraints, shifting global priorities, competing health emergencies and evolving social dynamics,” he added.

Dr Akanbong said the Commission would work with stakeholders to protect and accelerate gains made in HIV prevention.

World AIDS Day is marked annually to renew national commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

This year’s celebration will promote remote voluntary testing, linkage to care, treatment, and retention, in line with the UN 95-95-95 targets.

The event would also serve as a platform to advocate for increased domestic financing through the National HIV and AIDS Fund.

The GAC seeks to intensify community-level education on prevention, treatment, and stigma reduction throughout November.

Dr Akanbong said media outreach and condom distribution activities would be undertaken nationwide, and called on Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to support local efforts.

He announced that the celebration would be climaxed on Monday, December 1, 2025, with a national address by President John Dramani Mahama on Ghana’s HIV response.

Source: GNA

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According to the Chamber, over 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice, maize, and soya beans are currently stranded in warehouses and farms across the country, despite Ghana still importing large quantities of these commodities to meet consumption needs.

“We are witnessing a paradox of plenty — surplus grain in warehouses and shortages in the market,” said Farmer Anthony Kofituo Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana. “Without swift government action, farmers will be forced out of business and the grains sector could collapse.”

Crisis of Surplus Amid Shortage

CAG data shows that while Ghana consumes an estimated 1.9 million metric tonnes of rice annually, local producers account for just under 900,000 metric tonnes.

Yet, nearly two years’ worth of both milled and paddy rice reportedly remain unsold, trapped in warehouses and factories nationwide.

The Chamber attributes this anomaly to policy inconsistencies and market distortions, including the unchecked influx of smuggled and expired rice through unapproved routes, which it says have cost the state millions in tax revenue and destabilized local markets.

The situation is equally dire for maize and soya producers.

Ghana’s maize consumption stands at 3.3 million metric tonnes, but only 2.5 million metric tonnes are produced locally.

For soya, national output of around 225,000–250,000 metric tonnes represents barely a third of the country’s potential, while demand continues to rise above 300,000 metric tonnes.

Policy under fire: L.I. 2432 blamed for market distortion

The Chamber blames part of the crisis on the Export and Import (restriction on exportation of soya beans) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2432), which bans the export of soya beans without special authorization.

While the policy was designed to protect local feed industries, CAG says it has instead devastated farm incomes.

Farm-gate prices for soya have fallen from GH¢650 to GH¢400 per bag, with thousands of bags reportedly locked in warehouses across the northern and southern belts.

Many farmers are abandoning the crop altogether, seeing little incentive to continue cultivation under current restrictions.

CAG’s three immediate demands

To rescue the sector, the Chamber is calling on government to adopt three emergency measures:

1. A 3-month moratorium on rice imports — to clear existing local stockpiles, support millers, and stabilize prices.
2. Immediate repeal of L.I. 2432 — to free the soya bean market, restore prices, and unlock production potential.
3. Comprehensive market audit — led by the Ministries of Trade and Agriculture, Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, and Food and Drugs Authority, to trace smuggled and expired rice, validate tax compliance, and restore confidence in the market.

Call for strategic state intervention

Beyond short-term fixes, CAG is urging the government to introduce a strategic grain reserve procurement program, using the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to buy surplus grains directly from farmers at fair prices.

CAG is also proposing a five-year national rice production strategy, aligned with import quotas and increased investment in irrigation, mechanization, and processing infrastructure.

“A moment for decisive action”

The Chamber warns that inaction could trigger widespread rural poverty, food inflation, and collapse of the local grain economy.

“We must protect the livelihoods of our farmers and the integrity of Ghana’s food system,” Morrison stressed. “Decisive action today will turn this crisis into an opportunity for agricultural transformation.”

CAG believes that with coordinated government support and a renewed commitment to local value addition, Ghana’s grains sector can transition from vulnerability to a driver of food security, industrial growth, and national resilience.

Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah described the situation as alarming, attributing the high mortality rate to late diagnosis and delayed access to treatment.

“The mortality rate for cervical cancer was high. We had about 3,000 cases in 2024, but approximately 2,500 of them died. This is because by the time we diagnose the condition, it is often too late to intervene,” she said.

The Deputy Minister expressed optimism that the government’s free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for children aged 9 to 14 years would help reduce future cases of the disease.

She also highlighted that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), is intensifying public education and nationwide screening to promote early detection and prevention.

Health experts have long cautioned that cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana, despite being largely preventable through vaccination and regular screening.

The rollout of the free HPV vaccine marks a major step in protecting young girls from the virus responsible for most cervical cancer cases, as authorities intensify efforts to curb the growing toll of the disease.

According to him, the practice undermines fairness, compromises patient safety, and erodes public confidence in the health system, especially for vulnerable citizens who lack influence or connections.

Mr. Akandoh stressed that access to healthcare must be based on need and not personal ties, adding that health institutions must work together to strengthen ethical standards, accountability and professionalism in hospitals and clinics nationwide.

The sector minister made these comments at the 2025 annual conference of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) in Koforidua.

He explained that to address discrimination in healthcare facilities, he conducts unannounced visits – a practice that has now become his signature approach – to gain firsthand insight into what occurs in various settings.

Mr. Akandoh emphasised that the work done behind the scenes often matters more than what is publicly visible. He added that, as Christians, we are reminded that God created us in His own image.

“The treatment of patients with care, dignity, and respect has virtually become my signature message since I became the minister responsible for health. It is one of the reasons why I do what I do. Visiting health facilities allows us to have first-hand information about what goes on in various settings. It is often what we do behind the scenes, unseen, that matters more than what everyone observes. And as Christians, we know that God created us in His own image.”

“We must strive to eliminate discrimination. I have come to realise that, in government, people often feel the need to know who you are before treating you well. At times, I have had to disguise myself, using my height and demeanor to appear sincere. After such encounters, people come back and say, ‘Oh, we are sorry.’ But I do not appreciate apologies alone. Therefore, let us commit to eliminating discrimination and to treating patients with respect and care. This theme aligns profoundly with our national health ambition,” he said.

Mr. Akandoh also highlighted the vital role of CHAG in Ghana’s healthcare system. He said, “For decades, CHAG has embodied this responsibility with remarkable devotion. In many of Ghana’s most remote communities, where hope might otherwise be distant, CHAG facilities have stood as beacons of compassion and healing. Beyond delivering over 30% of health services nationwide lies a greater truth – you are more than providers of care; you are custodians of faith, dignity, and humanity in our health system. Your work affirms that medicine is not only a science, but also a ministry.”

The health minister acknowledged the ongoing pressures faced by the health workforce, including rising workloads, resource constraints and the emotional weight of service. He noted the ministry’s commitment to clearing backlogs in postings and addressing salary delays to ensure that health personnel can serve with dignity and confidence. He called on all healthcare providers to renew the human side of medicine.

“Clinical procedures may be followed meticulously, but the warm human connection – that essential element of healing – can sometimes be lost. Every patient encounter must become a moment of compassion, dignity, and hope, not simply a transaction, but a touch of grace,” he said.

The minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s partnership with CHAG, emphasising a mission-driven collaboration focused on deepening support for health workers, promoting ethical leadership, strengthening mentorship, and ensuring that CHAG’s values are integrated into the upcoming Health Sector Medium-Term Development Plan (2026–2029).

According to him, the minister’s recent accusations against the company, including claims of holding Ghana’s health data to ransom, hosting parts of the system in India, and receiving excess payments, are surprising and inconsistent with his earlier stance.

Lightwave E-Healthcare is the company behind the LHIS platform, an electronic system designed to manage patient records across health facilities nationwide. However, in recent months, the platform has experienced challenges that have disrupted patient care, insurance processing, and hospital operations.

The situation has led to a public exchange between the Health Ministry and Lightwave E-Healthcare over the system’s management and contract terms. Mr Akandoh had alleged that the company received 77 per cent of a US$100 million contract despite completing less than half of the work, further claiming that servers hosting patient data were located in India.

Lightwave E-Healthcare has, however, denied these allegations, insisting that it is owed eight months of post-contract service payments.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kojo Yankson on JoyFM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Agyei stated that Mr Akandoh had been part of a parliamentary oversight delegation that monitored the second phase of Lightwave’s contract.

“Yes, he (Mintah Akandoh) was aware of the contract. I have met him a couple of times. I have done it twice, and in all, I met the honourable minister when he was a ranking member. He was aware,” Mr Agyei said.

He added that the minister never raised any concerns at the time.

“I would be surprised if he would stand anywhere or anybody would say he is not aware,” he remarked.

Mr Agyei further recalled an instance where the minister questioned the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for attempting to duplicate a task already handled by Lightwave.

“There was one time the NHIA was going to do some activity that Lightwave was already doing, and I remember he raised concerns that if the Lightwave system is doing this, why is the NHIA going to do the same thing? Even that statement alone tells you he knew about the contract and the work being done,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister has announced the introduction of a new platform, the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS), a government-controlled digital system that will manage patient records, insurance verification, billing, and continuity of care across all public and mission health facilities.

GHIMS will serve as the sole authorised platform for patient registration, clinical documentation, billing, and NHIA claims submission. Health facilities have been directed to grant full access to deployment teams for the activation of the system.

The nationwide implementation of GHIMS is expected to begin in November 2025, marking a major step toward reducing private control over national health data and strengthening transparency and security within Ghana’s healthcare information systems.

In a detailed statement issued in Accra, the company described the Minister’s comments, made in Parliament on October 28 and reiterated at the Presidency’s Accountability Series on October 29, as false, misleading, and damaging to Ghana’s e-health progress.

Lightwave, which designed and implemented the LHIMS platform, said its statement aims to correct “inaccurate claims” and reaffirm its commitment to transparency, data sovereignty, and the continuity of healthcare digitisation in Ghana.

The company emphasised that it is fully Ghanaian-owned, incorporated in 2015, and employs over 150 local staff. Its sister firm, Lightwave E-Healthcare Services LLC, based in Atlanta, Georgia, is also owned by the same Ghanaian shareholder.

According to Lightwave, it successfully executed Phase One of the National E-Healthcare Project in 2017, covering 23 health facilities in the Central Region, including Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Following this, the government approved Phase Two in 2019, valued at US$100 million, to roll out the system across 950 facilities nationwide.

Responding to claims that Ghanaians’ electronic medical records were being managed from India, the company insisted that all patient data is securely housed in Ghana. The Ministry of Health retains full ownership and control of the central data repository within its data centre.

“The healthcare data of Ghanaians remains the property of the Ministry of Health. It is neither managed nor stored in India or any foreign location,” the statement said.

While the LHIMS software remains Lightwave’s intellectual property, the Ministry was granted a usage licence for the duration of the contract, in line with international software licensing standards.

Addressing claims that the company had executed less than 50 percent of the project despite receiving 77 percent of the contract value, Lightwave said the assertion misrepresented the facts. The contract assigned different financial weights to deployments at various categories of health facilities, with teaching and regional hospitals accounting for a higher percentage of the contract value.

“As of December 31, 2024, Lightwave had fully deployed the system in all four teaching hospitals, six regional hospitals, and 243 district hospitals—representing about 72 percent of the contract value,” the company explained.

Lightwave added that delays were largely due to the Ministry’s delayed payments, some exceeding 10 months, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company also refuted claims that no payments were owed, revealing that it had not been paid for eight months of post-contract work despite assurances from the Ministry. In addition, Lightwave has carried out extra work valued at approximately US$25 million outside the original contract scope, including systems integration with the National Health Insurance Authority, banks, pharmacies, and the Births and Deaths Registry, none of which has been compensated.

The LHIMS platform continues to operate in over 200 facilities, including Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Eastern Regional Hospital, Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, and Walewale District Hospital.

Lightwave expressed disappointment at the current impasse but reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with the Ministry to complete outstanding installations and maintain system integrity.

“The LHIMS platform has served Ghana effectively for nearly nine years. It remains one of the continent’s most robust e-health systems. We hope this clarification ends speculation and allows for a constructive resolution,” the statement concluded.

Source: Adomonline

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Read the full statement below:

I have always been a workaholic – and I don’t say this with the pride you would think. I was the guy who was always willing to commit another hour, another shift, another day – it was always just one more task.

Right from my days as a radio morning show host at the University of Ghana, Legon, to becoming a multimedia journalist at Joy 99.7 FM and JoyNews, before leaving for the UK, everyone who has known me, knows how passionate I am about my work.

To be able to do what you love, and get paid for it, summed up why I kept giving more and more of myself, even sometimes at the expense of my own wellbeing.

I must be honest, that lifestyle has paid off in ways I never imagined. It has opened doors, gotten me into rooms I could only dream of, and brought me accelerated breakthroughs even in my relatively short professional life.

So I’m aware it’s the price you pay for greatness – or so I thought. Working incredibly long hours while surviving on 2-4hrs of sleep was normal. I missed meals because I didn’t have time to eat well, I’ll down energy drinks to power me through the busy days, and when the slow days came, it was really sedentary for me.

I was never forced to do these, but more importantly, there were no guardrails to regulate this habit. So, typical of someone with unbridled passion for their job, this went on for a while until my body didn’t feel right anymore.

When I eventually went to the hospital, the doctors said I may not have made it to the next day alive. And with a blood sugar level of 33mol/l at the time, thank God I went there when I did!

To appropriate the words of the good book, what shall it profit a man, to work so hard for success and not live to see or enjoy the fruits of his labour?

This is my story – only I’m still alive to tell it. But it is also the story of so many workers across Ghana. We live at work, but go home to sleep. Across our workplaces, we know, we’re all dying slowly. Instead of working to live, we’re living to work.

And with the recent scary surge in non-communicable diseases among working professionals, it has become all the more important to turn our attention to workplaces and how they are impacting the health of our workforce.

That’s exactly why I started MentaPulse Africa – to lead advocacy for employee mental health and wellbeing in Ghana, and across the African continent – and we mean it.

After months of sensitisation, advocacy, outreach and community mobilisation from outside the country, I returned in October to convene the maiden edition of the #GhanaHealthandLabourSummit which brought together all the key stakeholders across Ghana’s employment mix to assess the hidden link between work and health.

With the full backing of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment as well as the sector Minister, Hon D. Rashid Pelpuo, we are developing Ghana’s first Workplace Health and Wellbeing Declaration, which will among other things, streamline government, employer and employee actions, towards creating healthier workplaces.

I’m grateful to my team at MentaPulse Africa for such an incredible job, as well as our partners, including the University of Ghana School of Public Health, Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Ghana, Ghana Employers Association, Mental Health Authority, and several other professional and worker unions, who contributed in diverse ways to making this possible.

To our sponsors, Merban Capital, CecilMorgan Heights, MAB International Hospital, Zoe Premium Dental and Twellium Industries, we say thank you – once again.

As we begin a new month today, I remember fondly what we did a few weeks ago. We lit a flame of transformation and began a movement for change – until workplaces in Ghana are reset to allow employees to truly thrive.

Source: Manuel Koranteng

Ms Keita said contraceptives are not only essential to women’s health but also critical to economic growth, education, and gender equality. She noted that the world is now facing a crisis as supply chains weaken and contraceptive stocks run low in vulnerable communities.

“Contraceptives save lives. For almost 50 years, global health authorities have recognised contraception as essential medicine. People want them, use them, and rely on them every day,” she said in a statement.

The UNFPA chief cautioned that the current funding shortfall could reverse decades of progress in reproductive health, especially in developing countries where women depend on international support for access to family planning.

“Health systems are bracing for a rise in unintended pregnancies, which are in turn linked to higher rates of maternal death, including due to unsafe abortion,” Ms Keita said.

“And the impacts are likely to extend far beyond health care—we can expect to see adolescent pregnancies, school dropouts, and even increased risk of gender-based violence.”

She highlighted that access to contraceptives empowers women and adolescent girls to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. Studies, she said, have shown that when women have access to contraception, they are more likely to complete school, find employment, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

School supplies

“Every $1 spent ending unmet need for contraception yields nearly $27 in economic benefits,” Ms. Keita noted, underscoring the broader socioeconomic importance of sustained investment in family planning.

UNFPA and its partners have, for decades, strengthened health systems and supply chains to ensure the availability of quality, affordable contraceptives even in remote areas.

Ms. Keita urged governments and donors to protect those gains and “work together to keep our promise to women and adolescent girls, uphold their rights and choices, and ensure they have access to the contraceptives they need to plan and forge a healthy and prosperous future.”

The warning comes as several low- and middle-income countries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa, face disruptions in contraceptive supply due to funding cuts and global health financing gaps. 

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Ghana’s own reproductive health services rely partly on UNFPA support to ensure the continuous availability of family planning commodities in public health facilities.

Burkinabé driver escapes death in accident on Accra–Kumasi Highway

I will resign if… Akandoh vows over LHIMS saga [Listen]

The Foundation believes awareness and screening should be held at least twice a year to save more lives through early detection.

Board Chair of the PEADATO Foundation, Dr. Gertrude Asiedu, says the Foundation’s commitment aligns with the global Pink October campaign, which aims to remind women of the importance of regular breast screenings.

“I would encourage all women across all that, do not wait for the 31st of October before you get yourself screened or before you get yourself checked. Make it your priority to continuously check yourself. Check regularly to get yourself saved,” she said.

In collaboration with the Asokwa Municipal Assembly, the Foundation undertook a free breast screening exercise at Gyinase.

The breast cancer awareness program brought together people from various communities, reinforcing one message that could save many lives: early detection is the best protection.

A beneficiary of the program, Joyce Opoku, shared her personal story, expressing how the experience of losing a close friend to breast cancer pushed her to get screened.

“I lost someone I lived with to breast cancer because it was detected too late. That’s why I didn’t hesitate to come to this screening. I want to tell every woman out there don’t wait. Get checked early, because breast cancer is real and can take lives,” she said.

Dr. Asiedu explained that the Foundation’s mission is to educate, inspire, and impact communities.

“PEADATO Foundation is all about inspiring change and giving back to society. Through this initiative, we want to encourage the youth and women to prioritize their health and engage in activities that promote wellness,” she added.

She also appealed to individuals and stakeholders to support the foundation financially, stressing that such contributions are vital to sustain their programs.

The Health Promotion Officer of the Asokwa Municipal Health Directorate, Selena Osei-Tutu, addressed common fears and misconceptions surrounding breast cancer. She cautioned against the use of herbal products or unapproved remedies, advising people to seek professional medical help.

“If you notice any strange signs in your breast, don’t rely on herbs or home treatments. The best step is to visit the hospital for screening and take medical advice seriously,” she said.

The Administrator of PEADATO Foundation, Abena Oforiwaa Dadzie, also emphasized the need for the government to strengthen awareness efforts and equip health facilities with the necessary tools for screening.

She said the initiative was inspired by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global campaign on breast cancer.

“Breast cancer is real, and early detection saves lives. We shouldn’t wait until October to get screened. I believe adding another month to raise awareness and providing hospitals with the needed resources will help us fight this disease better,” she stated.

The PEADATO Foundation, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to improving lives through health, education, and economic empowerment initiatives. Its goal is to support vulnerable groups, promote health education, and reduce breast cancer mortality rates among women and men.

Source: Josephine Sagoe

Management is therefore appealing to government, philanthropists, and benevolent organisations to urgently come to their aid.

Established in 1988, the Centre, which provides rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities and mental health challenges, has not seen any major renovation since its inception.

Public Health Officer and Nurse Manager of the Centre, Harriet Osei-Wusu, described the situation as alarming, noting that the facility’s rooms and essential amenities have deteriorated significantly over the years.

According to her, the Centre also faces severe challenges in accessing and sustaining the supply of essential medications.

Ms. Osei-Wusu underscored the importance of proactive mental health care, urging the public to undergo regular mental health check-ups as part of their wellness routine.

She made the appeal when the Old Students Association of St. Monica’s Senior High School donated food items, assorted drinks, and sanitary materials to support the Centre’s operations.

Global Communication Officer of the Association, Dede Larweh, reiterated their commitment to community service, stressing the importance of giving back to society and supporting vulnerable groups.

The Association also used the occasion to encourage young girls to prioritise education, avoid drug abuse, and make positive life choices that contribute to a brighter future.

The donation formed part of activities marking the 79th Anniversary Celebration of St. Monica’s SHS under the theme: “Quality Education: Embracing a Dynamic and Holistic Approach for the Twenty-First Century.”

Located in Asante Mampong, St. Monica’s SHS has over the years produced outstanding women contributing meaningfully to Ghana’s development across various sectors.

Source: David Opoku

The clarification comes amid growing exchanges between the two officials over the management and performance of the LHIMS project — a system developed to digitise patient records nationwide.

Dr. Okoe Boye had earlier maintained that Lightwave is a fully Ghanaian-owned company, stressing that the nation’s health data is securely hosted within the Ministry of Health and not in India, contrary to circulating reports. He also cautioned that government’s decision to introduce a new platform — the Ghana Healthcare Information Management System (GHIMS) — could undermine the gains made under the LHIMS initiative.

Responding in an interview on Citi FM, Mr. Akandoh accused the former minister of misrepresenting his remarks to divert public attention from the core issues surrounding the digital health platform.

“It is very interesting that Okoe Boye is the spokesperson for Lightwave at this point in time. I have never on this earth stated that Lightwave is not a Ghanaian company.

“So Okoe Boye is setting his own questions and answering them. He should play my voice anywhere that I said that company is not a Ghanaian company,” Mr. Akandoh stated.

The initiative, in collaboration with the Goaso Government Hospital, aims to promote early detection and treatment of breast cancer, particularly among market women who often have limited time to visit health facilities for check-ups.

Speaking to Adom News, Dr. Tandoh expressed concern over the rising number of breast cancer cases in Ghana, noting that an average of 12 women are diagnosed daily — a situation he described as alarming.

He explained that the screening exercise is part of efforts to encourage preventive healthcare and raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis.

“Many of these women are always busy, so bringing the screening closer to them helps them know their health status without disrupting their daily activities,” Dr. Tandoh said.

Participants also received screenings for diabetes, hepatitis, and HIV, with many expressing gratitude to Dr. Tandoh and the medical team for the gesture.

Health officials noted that the exercise forms part of a broader campaign to reduce breast cancer deaths through education, early detection, and timely medical intervention.

Source: Sammy Asare

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The platform, called the Ghana Healthcare Information Management System (GHIMS), was recently launched by the government to replace the Lightwave Health Information Management System, which had been plagued by technical failures and service disruptions, particularly in the Ashanti Region.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has announced a four-week nationwide migration plan, starting with teaching hospitals, regional hospitals, and major district hospitals, before expanding to other district hospitals, clinics, health centres, and CHPS compounds.

GHIMS is designed to ensure reliable electronic health records, reduce patient processing delays, and prevent a return to manual systems that previously slowed healthcare delivery.

Speaking on Channel One TV, Prof. Beyuo said staff at Ridge Hospital were enthusiastic about the new system’s efficiency and flexibility.

“What I can confirm is that our colleagues at Ridge Hospital are jubilating because the new software introduced is more user-friendly. It is very accessible. People can make changes and customise it to institutional demands. I have personally called the Minister of Health to suggest that Korle Bu should be the next place for piloting,” he stated.

Speaking at a webinar on “Strengthening Vaccine Communication in Ghana,” the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, highlighted the critical role of journalists in shaping public perception and promoting vaccine confidence.

He noted that while Ghana’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has recorded significant success — with coverage exceeding 85% for most antigens — vaccine hesitancy driven by misinformation, cultural beliefs, and mistrust remains a major challenge.

“A vaccine can only save lives when people understand, trust, and accept it. That is where the media plays a crucial role,” Dr Sodzi stressed.

He commended the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the EPI, the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN), and media partners for their collaboration in promoting accurate and responsible health reporting.

Dr Sodzi noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep global inequalities in vaccine access, underscoring the need for African countries to take charge of their vaccine production. This, he explained, led to the establishment of the National Vaccine Institute under Act 1097 of 2023 to coordinate vaccine research, development, and manufacturing in Ghana.

“The NVI’s vision is to build a self-sufficient, resilient, and innovative vaccine ecosystem in Ghana,” he said, adding that the Institute’s work is guided by integrity, innovation, collaboration, accountability, professionalism, and impact.

Progress Toward Vaccine Independence

Dr Sodzi outlined key milestones achieved under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama as part of the government’s “reset agenda” to strengthen pandemic preparedness and health security.

Among the progress highlighted were:

• Technology Transfer Partnership: A collaboration between Ghana’s Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd. and Indonesia’s PT Bio Farma to accelerate local production of the Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccine by 2026. The partnership also aims to enhance Ghana’s research and technical manufacturing capacity.
• Government’s $50 Million Commitment: In August 2025, the government pledged an additional $50 million in seed funding to the NVI and began developing an Advance Market Commitment (AMC) framework. This will prioritise government procurement of locally produced vaccines and sera, ensuring sustainability for local manufacturers.
• Development of a Legislative Instrument: Work is ongoing to finalise the Legislative Instrument (LI) for Act 1097, which will establish the legal framework for the Institute’s operations and long-term financing.

Media as a Strategic Partner in Health Security

Dr Sodzi stressed that scientific progress must be matched by effective communication, noting that misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic spread faster than the virus itself.

“Accurate and responsible reporting is a matter of national health security,” he said. “Health communication is not a one-time effort; it is a continuous collaboration between scientists, health professionals, and the media.”

He urged journalists to embrace evidence-based reporting, fact-checking, and contextual storytelling to dispel myths and boost public confidence in vaccines and health interventions.

“The story of vaccine development in Ghana is not only about science. It is also about national pride, resilience, and innovation,” he added.

Dr Sodzi reaffirmed the NVI’s commitment to working with the Ghana Health Service, EPI, regulatory agencies, universities, and the media to build a transparent, trusted, and self-reliant vaccine ecosystem.

He concluded by assuring the public that the NVI, in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and vaccine manufacturers, will uphold the highest standards of safety and quality in all production processes.

“The NVI believes that accurate, ethical, and well-informed journalism is a cornerstone of public health. Together, we can build a future where health information empowers, vaccines protect, and every citizen has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified life,” Dr Sodzi said.

Source: Ivy Setordjie

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Akandoh said that despite receiving more than 70 percent of the contract amount, the contractor failed to complete the assigned work, having connected fewer than half of the planned health facilities.

“They brought me an invoice — why should I pay that, especially when they’ve already received 77 million dollars? At worst, they could have gone to court rather than switching off the system. That’s holding the country to ransom,” he stated.

Mr. Akandoh added that the new Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS), developed to replace the malfunctioning LHIMS, has full legal backing from the Attorney General to ensure better control and sustainability.

He assured Ghanaians that all due diligence has been done.

“As Minister, I won’t take a reckless decision,” he affirmed.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Akandoh said the government has ensured that facilities are paid monthly, marking a significant improvement over past delays.

“There is no facility under NHIS that can say they haven’t been paid. From January to June, all payments have been made,” he emphasized.

He further disclosed that nursing training allowances are being paid consistently, except during vacation periods, and that school feeding allowances have also been settled.

“This government is very strategic. We make sure our commitments are met on time,” the minister stated.

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Akandoh disclosed that Cabinet has approved the payments and that the Ministry of Finance has directed the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to initiate disbursements.

“From November this year, they will be paid. However, the arrears will be rolled out in phases,” he stated.

At an earlier press briefing, the Minister explained that the delays were caused by the lack of financial clearance for the recruitment of about 13,500 nurses and midwives by the previous administration.

He assured health workers that government is taking steps to address the outstanding arrears systematically while ensuring the sustainability of payroll management within the health sector.

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  Health Minister refers Lightwave Health System contract infractions to Attorney General
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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Akandoh disclosed that the contractor had the power to switch the national health data system on or off “at will,” disrupting healthcare delivery across the country.

“Our forensic audit revealed a gap of about 18 million dollars. Out of the 77 million dollars they received, about 10 to 11 million was meant for 157 facilities, but only seven were completed. When we tried to engage them to prevent disruptions, they refused to give us access to the data unless we altered the contract terms in their favour,” he stated.

Mr. Akandoh described the situation as unacceptable, revealing that the vendor completely shut down the system for nearly two weeks.

He further announced that a new Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) has been developed to replace LHIMS and will be fully owned by the state.

According to him, the new contract has the backing of the Attorney General to ensure transparency and national control.

“I can assure Ghanaians that as Minister, I won’t take a reckless decision. We have done thorough work, and this time, the system will belong to the state,” he affirmed.

READ ALSO:

• 
  Health Minister refers Lightwave Health System contract infractions to Attorney General
• Setutsi Goka Ivowi appointed to the Board of Unilever Ghana Plc
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Speaking during the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, October 29, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh revealed that investigations by his ministry uncovered major breaches in the execution of the Lightwave contract.

Although the contractor delivered less than half of the planned health facility connections, it received over $77 million, representing more than 70 percent of the total contract sum, Mr. Akandoh said.

To address the system’s failures and ensure seamless healthcare operations nationwide, the government has developed a new platform — the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) — to replace the malfunctioning LHIMS.

“Since we began this journey, all stakeholders have been on board. From the CEOs of the teaching hospitals, the medical superintendent, EOCO, the Attorney General, Minister for Communication, everybody has been on board. So the issue of legality and security issues has been referred to the Attorney General for advice and appropriate action,” the Minister explained.

Mr. Akandoh also disclosed that the Lightwave contract was never presented to Parliament for consideration and accused the vendor of failing to act in good faith, complicating renegotiation efforts.

The government has directed Lightwave to hand over the system and its infrastructure to the state, but this process was complicated by the system being hosted on a cloud platform in India, limiting Ghana’s control over its operations.

The new system, named the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS), replaces the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS), which the government says failed to meet its objectives.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, October 29, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh criticized the company behind LHIMS for underperformance and what he described as blackmail.

“Ghanaians will never go back to the manual way. We are moving forward responsibly, confidently, and decisively. At this point, I would want to share with you the facts, nothing but the facts as we inherited,” he said.

Mr. Mintah Akandoh explained that in 2019, the government signed a $100 million contract with Lightwave to connect 950 health facilities nationwide through LHIMS. The contract, initially set to end in 2022, was extended twice—first to 2023 and later to December 31, 2024—due to delays in implementation.

“At the end of the expiration, out of the 950 facilities, only 450 had been connected. You would all agree with me that a contract meant for three years, extended to five years, but with only 450 facilities delivered, clearly shows the company underperformed,” he said.

He added that although less than half the work had been completed, over 70% of the total contract sum had already been paid.

“By December 2024, the vendor had been paid about $77 million out of the $100 million. Clearly, more than 70% of the total amount had been paid, yet less than 50% of the work was done,” he noted.

The Minister said a forensic audit revealed further irregularities in the supply of hardware, including shortages and poor-quality equipment.

“We realised that even the hardware supply had gaps. If the contract stated that HP laptops should be supplied, cheaper brands were delivered. If it said 100 computers, fewer were supplied. The gap in hardware alone was not less than $18 million,” he stated.

Mr. Mintah Akandoh also raised serious concerns about data security and sovereignty, explaining that LHIMS’s cloud infrastructure was hosted outside Ghana.

“It is unconscionable for any company to have access to the electronic medical records of Ghanaians without the state having control. With the cloud infrastructure built somewhere in India, we had to act,” he said.

The Ministry has referred the matter to the Attorney-General’s Department and relevant security agencies for advice and further action.

Meanwhile, ongoing disruptions in the LHIMS system forced some hospitals to revert temporarily to manual record-keeping, and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) reported service downtimes affecting patient services.

Mr. Mintah Akandoh said the government’s focus now is on restoring stability and ensuring that public health facilities can operate without interruption under the new GHIMS platform.

“As a Ministry, our concern was to find a solution to this mess. Even though we didn’t have any contract with the vendor at the time, we indicated that we were ready to sign a maintenance agreement to cover the 450 facilities. But the software itself was not owned by the state. That is why it was called the Lightwave Health Information Management System. We are now taking full control.”

Yet, a growing number of young Africans are rising to the task by leading advocacy for the continent’s health sovereignty.

This was the key highlight of the 8th Galien Africa Forum, which opened on October 28, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal.

The first of the three-day conference was held under the theme: “Rethinking Health Leadership: Preparing a Generation Capable of Defending Africa’s Health Sovereignty in a Technological and Globalized World.”

More than 2,500 participants, including scientists, health professionals, policymakers, development partners, and students are attending the forum both in-person and virtually.

The gathering seeks to re-examine Africa’s contribution to global health leadership and to reaffirm the continent’s commitment to asserting control over its own health priorities.

One of the major attractions at the forum was an exhibition by young, innovation-driven African scientists showcasing promising technological solutions aimed at addressing persistent health challenges.

Among the projects presented were pitches on Universal Access to Healthcare: Leveraging Biometrics and AI, Safe Water Hubs, and Integrated Health Systems.

Participants were invited to evaluate and endorse the best ideas for possible future adoption and implementation.

Two medical students leading a team of ten, Samuel Afolabi from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and Lydia Ankomah Oben from the University of Ghana Medical School both presented a pitch on Universal Access to Healthcare Leveraging Biometrics and AI.

Speaking to JoyNews Editor Emefa Ewoenam Atiamoah-Eli who is also Ghana’s National Coordinator of the Africa Media Network for the Promotion of Health and Environment (REMAPSEN), at the Forum, Afolabi explained that technology holds the key to bridging Africa’s healthcare gaps.

“Many people in Africa lack the proper data needed to access quality healthcare. Some spend two to three hours at hospitals for consultations that should last less than 30 minutes, while others walk several kilometers just to see a doctor,” he said.

The team’s proposed solution is a simple mobile application designed to close these gaps and help Africa take greater control of its health needs.

Lydia Ankomah Obeng emphasised that “education and awareness creation in remote areas are critical to getting people to adopt and use the app for improved well-being.” She expressed optimism that with the adequate government and development partner support, the innovation could be scaled up across the continent.

Making a strong case for Africa to take ownership of its health data, Prof. Dr. Bamba Gaye, a Research Scientist in Preventive Cardiology at the Institute of Health and Development (ISED), University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, stressed that “Africa must become an active contributor to AI systems by feeding them with its own data to avoid biased, externally sourced information that misrepresents the continent’s true health realities.”

Under the leadership of Prof. Marie Coll Seck, President of Galien Africa, the opening day of the 8^th Galien Forum attracted several high-level dignitaries. In her address, Prof. Seck intimated that “Africa is not just a continent, it is the driving force for innovation.”

She called for the scaling up of local production and promotion of African health products, urging stakeholders to help mobilise resources and expertise toward achieving true health sovereignty.

Officially opening the forum, Senegal’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ibrahima Sy, called on participants to view health sovereignty not merely as a slogan but as a collective responsibility.

“Reclaiming autonomy over Africa’s health requires deliberate action, investing in youth training and technological innovation in healthcare delivery,” he stated.

He explained that the Authority is sensitising market women, drivers, and other informal workers on how to renew their membership using the short code *929#, eliminating the need to physically visit NHIA offices.

“This initiative allows us to connect directly with the public and also helps us gather first-hand information about the challenges members face. These are issues we need to address urgently to make the scheme more effective,” he said.

The Acting Operations Manager for NHIA in the region, Thomas Asante Krobea Opare, also highlighted that the Ahafo Region currently leads the country in active NHIS coverage—a feat he attributed to the dedication of district directors and field officers.

“Our team is determined to ensure that the number of active subscribers keeps improving significantly. The measures in place are working, and we’re committed to sustaining the momentum,” he assured.

The “Market Storm” campaign underscores the NHIA’s goal of expanding health insurance coverage through innovation and community engagement, ensuring that more Ghanaians can conveniently access affordable healthcare.

Source: Sammy Asare

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The handover ceremony, held in Accra and themed “Transfer of Leadership Mandate: From Partnership to Ownership,” brought together the leadership of PharmAccess and SafeCare—both from Ghana and the international headquarters—and CHAG, to celebrate the successful local institutionalization and ownership of one of Ghana’s most transformative healthcare quality initiatives.

The event marked a symbolic milestone — a transition from technical partnership to full local ownership — as PharmAccess, the international health development organization that pioneered the SafeCare standards and quality improvement (QI) approach in Ghana and other parts of the world, officially handed over operational leadership and a sustainable model for continuous implementation of the system to CHAG.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Director of CHAG, Dr Peter Yeboah, described the occasion as “solemn, proud, and deeply meaningful.”

He reflected on a six-year journey that began with cautious optimism and has since evolved into a national benchmark for healthcare quality and safety.

“When we began this partnership about five or six years ago, it was not just another project,” he said.

“It was the birth of a movement that sought to redefine what quality means in healthcare delivery. We came together on the conviction that access to care, though necessary, is not sufficient. What truly saves lives is access to quality, effective, and dignified care — care that treats the human person as more than a statistic, but as a being deserving of compassion and excellence.”

Adding to this, the Executive Director, announced that thirty-nine CHAG facilities have now attained SafeCare Level 4 certification, while others at various levels of quality rating have achieved more than 90% improvement in their scores.

He emphasised that these advancements mark a significant leap forward in healthcare delivery, noting that every improvement contributes to saving lives, strengthening patient trust, and restoring the dignity of care.

To sustain this progress, CHAG has established a dedicated SafeCare Quality Hub — a centre for training, mentorship, and performance monitoring — designed to ensure continuous quality improvement and capacity development beyond the handover.

In addition, CHAG has developed a sustainable business model to support the long-term implementation of the SafeCare system.

The model integrates multiple revenue streams — including member contributions, partnerships programs integration, and a token-based procurement system for facility participation — to ensure that quality improvement remains both financially viable and locally driven.

This approach positions CHAG to independently manage, scale, and continuously enhance the SafeCare program as an integral part of its broader health system strengthening agenda.

The impact of the SafeCare program has extended well beyond CHAG’s network. Working together, PharmAccess and CHAG successfully advocated for the recognition of the SafeCare standards and QI approach by Ghana’s Ministry of Health as a national quality improvement model.

The Ghana Health Service and the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) have also adopted the framework within their quality assurance systems.

He stressed that the handover should not be seen as an endpoint, but an evolution in Ghana’s health quality journey.

On his part, Dr. Maxwell Antwi, the Country Director of PharmAccess Ghana, reflected with gratitude and resolve, recalling the program’s humble beginnings and hard-won successes.

 “When we began in 2019, the CHAG-SafeCare program was just a concept. Today, it has become the second most unifying factor within CHAG after salaries — and that says a lot for a network that’s been around for more than a century.” Dr Antwi credited CHAG’s leadership — particularly Dr Yeboah and his team — for their unwavering vision and persistence, noting that the partnership thrived because “they viewed health transformation not as a job, but as a mission.”

Adding a global perspective, Ms. Roelinde Bakker, International Director of SafeCare, commended CHAG and Ghana for their achievements, expressing admiration for the scale and impact of implementation in the country. She shared insights from her recent visits to St. James Polyclinic – Abesim and Holy Family Hospital – Berekum, where she witnessed the transformation firsthand.

“SafeCare operates in 25 countries with 39 partners, and CHAG in Ghana stands out as one of our strongest networks. We are extremely proud that more than 350 facilities from the CHAG network are implementing SafeCare. What we have learned from Ghana is shaping how we expand to new countries.”

She praised CHAG’s leadership for extending SafeCare even to remote areas and for empowering healthcare professionals with real-time data and actionable insights.

She concluded by reaffirming that PharmAccess and SafeCare remain committed to working alongside CHAG and the Ghana Health Service to extend quality standards across the entire health sector.

Ms. Bonifacia Benefo Agyei, Country Director of SafeCare in Ghana, commended CHAG for its leadership, vision, and commitment to quality improvement. She noted that the transition marks not an end, but the beginning of a new chapter of locally led innovation and sustainability in healthcare quality.

She said the handover symbolises more than the transfer of a system; it represents trust, capacity, and a shared vision for quality healthcare for all.

She continued that CHAG has demonstrated that with the proper structure, commitment, and leadership, local institutions can successfully sustain and scale international quality improvement models.

Ms Bonifacia Agyei expressed that PharmAccess is proud to have been part of crafting this transformative journey and remains committed to supporting Ghana’s broader health system strengthening efforts.

She reaffirmed PharmAccess’ confidence in CHAG’s capacity to manage the SafeCare system sustainably, highlighting that the new business and operational model developed by CHAG aligns with global best practices for health system ownership and accountability.

What began under external guidance has matured into a locally owned, nationally recognised model of excellence — one that reflects the power of partnership, purpose and faith in transforming healthcare.

Throughout the month, the series featured powerful conversations, expert insights, and inspiring personal stories that explored different types of cancers, their management, and the journeys of survival and hope.

This playlist brings together all the episodes from the Joy Cancer Month Awareness Series — a must-listen collection for anyone seeking knowledge, encouragement, and a deeper understanding of how together, we can confront cancer with awareness, care, and compassion.

Joy Cancer Awareness Month Series | Episode 15: Retinoblastoma with Dr. Samira Yamyolia

Surviving Cancer: Dede Offei Takes Us Through Her Journey & a Daughter Who Broke Down 3 Years Later

Joy Cancer Awareness Month Series | Episode 13: Ovarian Cancer with Prof. Samuel Antwi Oppong

Joy Cancer Awareness Month Series | Episode 12: Cervical Cancer with Prof. Samuel Antwi Oppong

Joy Cancer Awareness Month Series | Episode 11: Breast Cancer (Part Two) with Prof. Kafui Akakpo

Joy Cancer Awareness Month Series | Episode 10: Breast Cancer (Part One) with Prof. Kafui Akakpo

Joy Cancer Awareness Month Series | Episode 9: Understanding Lung Cancer with Dr. Nana Ama Wadee

 Joy Cancer Awareness Month Series | Episode 8: Understanding Prostate Cancer with Dr. Isaac Aidoo

Joy Cancer Month Awareness Series Ep.7: Liver Cancer

Joy Cancer Month Awareness Series Ep. 6: Colorectal Cancer

Joy Cancer Month Awareness Series Ep. 5: Palliative Care in Cancer Management

Joy Cancer Awareness Month Series Ep. 4: Cancer Therapy-Chemotherapy & Radiation

Joy Cancer Month Awareness Series Ep. 3: Cancer Therapy [Surgical Treatment]

Joy Cancer Awareness Month Series Episode 2: Investigative Tools for Cancer Diagnosis

80% of Cervical Cancer Cases Are Preventable – What Ghanaians Need to Know About Cancer Screening

Source: Myjoyonline

Rather, he said they stemmed from issues with software providers managing the scheme’s digital infrastructure.

The clarification came in response to a request by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, who wanted the Health Minister to appear before Parliament next week to brief members on the ongoing disruptions affecting NHIS operations.

In what appeared to be a revealing exchange during last Friday’s parliamentary sitting in Accra, Mr. Ayariga stated, “The problem is not money. The NHIS has funds. The real issue is with the software providers who are failing to deliver a reliable system.”

He emphasised that technical failures had led to frequent system downtimes, frustrating healthcare providers and patients alike.

Mr. Shaib had earlier raised alarm over the persistent breakdowns in NHIS systems, which had disrupted access to healthcare services across the country.

The Weija-Gbawe legislator called for urgent intervention, noting that many constituents are unable to access care due to verification challenges and delays in claims processing.

“The Health Minister must come here and explain what is being done to fix this,” Mr. Shaib insisted, urging Parliament to treat the matter as a national priority.

The NHIS has faced mounting criticisms in recent months over its digital infrastructure.

Hospitals and pharmacies have reported frequent outages in the claims and verification systems, leading to service delays and out-of-pocket payments by insured patients.

Mr. Ayariga’s remarks shift the focus from financial constraints to technical accountability, raising questions about the performance and oversight of contracted software vendors.

Parliament is expected to summon the Health Minister next week to provide a comprehensive briefing on the NHIS’s operational challenges and outline steps being taken to resolve the software issues.

As Ghana continues to expand access to universal healthcare, the reliability of NHIS systems remains critical to public trust and service delivery.

Source: GNA

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“For us to have an effective fight against breast cancer in Asutifi South, efforts must be intensified,” she said.

A midwife at the hospital, Cecilia Newman, expressed concern about the increasing trend of self-medication among women who experience changes in their breasts.

She advised residents to report any unusual breast symptoms to the hospital for professional examination rather than resorting to self-treatment.

“Self-medication is not the solution to fighting breast cancer. Once you notice any strange change in your breast, please visit the hospital for proper care,” she urged.

The hospital’s initiative forms part of Ghana’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which encourages early detection and preventive health practices to reduce fatalities linked to the disease.

Source: Sammy Asare

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Speaking on JoyNews AM Show, Mr. Mahama said the current situation is undermining the efficiency gains made through digital health systems over the past decade.

According to him, storing patient information manually makes it harder for doctors and nurses to access the data they need for diagnosis and treatment.

He noted that such delays can be dangerous in emergencies.

“Once data is stored manually and physical files are kept at a registry, it becomes difficult to trace patient records,” he said. “These unnecessary delays can sometimes cause unnecessary loss of lives.”

Kabiru further explained that digital systems were initially adopted to solve these very challenges by making patient records accessible in real-time and improving coordination among medical staff.

However, the recent disruption of the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) has forced some health facilities to revert to manual and semi-digital procedures.

The setback stems from ongoing financial disagreements between the Ministry of Health and Lightwave eHealthcare Solutions Limited, the private company that has operated the LHIMS platform for more than ten years.

Despite its central role in managing digital patient records and processing insurance claims nationwide, the company has reportedly not been paid for months, leaving its operations unstable.

Kabiru also pointed out that some service providers are now struggling to maintain old or outdated digital infrastructure.

“We have situations where equipment and software have become obsolete due to a lack of investment,” he said.

“Once that happens, health facilities cannot keep up with the times or maintain consistent service.”

The Ghana Health Service and the National Health Insurance Authority have yet to announce a long-term solution to the disruptions, though interim measures are being implemented.

Source: myjoyonline

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Source: Sammy Asare

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The Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS), a web-based software platform, assists in health care delivery and administrative functions.

A visit to some health facilities in the Ashanti region revealed many patients in frustration and anxiety as their lives hung on the thread.
 
At the Ejisu Government Hospital, patients were seen wielding folders in queue to seek medical attention.

 
Their healthcare officers buried their heads in the folders to write their medical data 
Patients have been left distraught, waiting in the long queues.  

“I came here around 7 am and after waiting in long queues I have now been served. If I knew this was the situation, I would have gone to a private facility,” a patient said.
 
The situation has been similar at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Suntreso Government Hospital.
 
Health officers reportedly resorted to writing in exercise books, presenting a physical discomfort to the frontline workers and a financial burden on management.
 
Some facilities confirm losing medical data records of patients since 2023.

 
Many of them are now desperately seeking alternatives to ease the burden.
 
Management of the Manhyia Government Hospital after enduring a week of the discomforting situation has found an alternative digital platform.  
 
When the news team visited the facility, it was evident – the long winding queues witnessed previous days had reduced.

 
For many of these facilities, they urgently want a return to the electronic system.
 
But until then, they must endure some days of pain to their wrists and fingers while the patients cry for expedited healthcare delivery.

Source: Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe

The upgraded facility is expected to significantly improve access to health insurance registration, renewals, and healthcare services for residents, bringing the operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) closer to the people.

Speaking to Adom News after the commissioning, Mr Kuyon said the project aligns with his broader vision of strengthening local institutions and improving social services in the district.

“This is the first time Krachi Nchumuru is having an autonomous NHIA office, and it will help bring health insurance services closer to our people. It’s our collective responsibility to ensure that every resident has access to affordable healthcare,” he stated.

The MP also refuted reports circulating on social media suggesting that Krachi Nchumuru did not have an NHIA office, describing such claims as false.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Krachi Nchumuru, Mr. Martin Kofi Anato, lauded the MP for the initiative, noting that the new facility would create employment opportunities for residents and help reduce unemployment in the area.

Oti Regional Director of the NHIA, Mr. Jelious Nilimor, also commended Hon. Kuyon for his foresight, describing the renovated office as a “game-changer” for healthcare delivery in the district. He assured that his office would deploy adequate staff and ensure proper maintenance of the facility.

The Ankobea Hene of Bejamse Traditional Area and Chief of Chinderi, Nana Okogye, together with community leaders and residents, expressed gratitude to the MP. They noted that the new office would save them the time and cost previously spent traveling to Kete Krachi for NHIS services.

The renovated NHIA office stands as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to decentralize and improve healthcare access in rural communities across the country.

Source: Odehyeba Owusu Job

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The 2026 edition, powered by Apex Africa Concept, will honour outstanding individuals, institutions, and initiatives that have made exceptional contributions to healthcare delivery and public health advancement across the nation.

The nomination window runs from 5th October to 10th December 2025, providing ample opportunity for stakeholders across the country to file submissions through the official website, www.apexafricaconcept.com. The Awards recognise professionals who continue to demonstrate leadership, compassion, and dedication to improving the quality of healthcare services in Ghana.

According to the organisers, the Ghana Medical and Health Awards serve as a national platform to highlight excellence across the medical and allied health professions, while fostering collaboration and motivation within the industry.

Categories span individual and institutional achievements, encompassing doctors, nurses, pharmacists, midwives, laboratory scientists, health administrators, public health advocates, and community health initiatives.

Speaking on the launch of the nomination process, representatives from Apex Africa Concept noted that the Awards seek to “acknowledge the everyday heroes of Ghana’s health sector whose service, innovation, and commitment have positively transformed lives and strengthened healthcare delivery systems.”

Nominees will undergo a comprehensive selection process designed to ensure fairness and merit-based recognition. Winners will be honoured at a prestigious awards ceremony in 2026, where the best in medical and health service delivery will be celebrated.

Members of the public and healthcare stakeholders are encouraged to submit nominations or recommend deserving individuals and organisations before the deadline. For further information, interested parties may contact 059 822 5556 or visit the Awards’ official social media pages at @GhanaMedicalAndHealthAwards.

The Ghana Medical and Health Awards continue to serve as a beacon of inspiration and a driving force for excellence in the country’s health sector, motivating professionals to strive for higher standards of service and innovation.

Source: AdomOnline

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Speaking at the signing of a Performance Contract Agreement, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh commended the Traditional Medicine Practice Council and the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) for their recent actions in shutting down unlicensed practitioners and substandard health facilities.

“I commend some of the agencies that are shaking the system. I’ve heard about the traditional medicine people going around, trying to clamp down on quack practitioners. I’ve also heard about HeFRA; they are shaking the system,” he said.

The Minister, however, urged other regulatory bodies, including the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA), to step up their oversight roles to ensure public health and safety.

“I have not heard much about the FDA. I want to hear the FDA out there. All agencies under the ministry must be visible and execute their mandates, especially MoFFA. There are many mortuaries operating without certification, and that poses serious health risks,” Mr. Akandoh cautioned.

He emphasized the need for stricter regulation of mortuary operations, noting that poor handling of corpses and unrestricted access to dead bodies in some communities could lead to the spread of infectious diseases.

Source: AdomOnline

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This gesture aims to improve service delivery at the hospital, which serves as a referral center for many regions.

The Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, expressed his gratitude for the donation, stating that it came at the right time.

“This donation will go a long way in easing the burden on clients who visit the hospital,” he said.

He added, “It is our duty and responsibility to take care of those who visit the hospital.”

The donated equipment includes 40 cardiac tables, 15 electric beds, 20 patient monitors, 15 hydraulic patient stretchers, dual ABS medicine trolleys, 30 folding bed screens.

Others are; 30 wheelchairs, 15 crash trolleys, and 40 drip stands.

The hospital management revealed that the facility continues to face equipment challenges despite its skilled labor and rising demand for services.

Dr. Baidoo added, “We have a lot of needs, we have just one MRI that is working, and it’s faulty. CT scans are not working, and we’re trying to bring these.”

Meanwhile, the church has showed appreciation to the staff of the facility for their dedication in spite of the equipment challenges.

They believe the donation will improve service delivery.

Source: Nana Yaw Gyimah

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Prof. Oppong revealed that nearly 3,000 women in Ghana are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with almost half dying within 12 months of diagnosis.

“In spite of the dire picture or the gloomy picture painted about cervical cancer, every year from January to December, nearly 3,000 women develop the disease, and nearly half of them will die from it within a year,” he said.

He stressed that while the statistics are grim, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers in women and that sexual behaviour plays a central role in its prevention.

“Cervical cancer is a lot easier to prevent than breast cancer,” he noted. “Yet more women die from cervical cancer than from breast cancer and that’s largely due to preventable risk factors.”

Prof. Oppong explained that cervical cancer is primarily caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that is transmitted through sexual contact. As such, he said, managing sexual activity is a critical part of reducing risk.

“The disease is acquired mainly through sexual intercourse. If we reduce our risk of sexual activity, we reduce our chances of developing cervical cancer,” he said.

He encouraged young girls to delay the age at which they become sexually active, stating that the later one begins sexual activity, the lower the likelihood of contracting HPV.

“The older you are when you have your first sexual activity, the less likely your risk of acquiring HPV infection,” Prof. Oppong said.

He also advised limiting the number of sexual partners, highlighting the difficulty in knowing who might be carrying the virus.

“Reducing our exposure to different sexual partners is key because you don’t know which of them might be carrying HPV,” he warned.

While sexual behaviour was a major focus of his message, Prof. Oppong also emphasised other protective steps, including avoiding smoking, which weakens the immune system and makes it harder to fight off HPV infections.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle to support immune function. HPV vaccination, which has become more widely available globally and is highly effective in preventing the types of HPV most likely to cause cervical cancer.

Source: Myjoyonline

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Speaking at the 8th Annual General Congress of the Fertility Society of Ghana in Tema, Acting General Secretary of HeFRA, Dr. Winfred Korletey Baa, said the move is part of efforts to respond to the growing sophistication of Ghana’s health sector and fertility centres.

“The sophisticated state of the health sector and fertility centers across the country has forced us as regulators to set up a special tool to regulate that space,” Dr. Baa explained.

He added that the upcoming fertility licensing and inspection tool will introduce clear benchmarks for service delivery. The tool will address key issues such as data security, fertility preservation, and compliance with medical standards in both public and private facilities.

According to Dr Baa, the agency aims to ensure that facilities meet strict operational and ethical standards while safeguarding patient safety and trust.

The regulation of fertility clinics has become increasingly important as more Ghanaians turn to assisted reproductive services. Industry experts have raised concerns about the need for uniform standards, especially around technology use, patient confidentiality, and service quality.

HeFRA’s planned inspection tool is expected to be rolled out in phases, targeting both urban and rural health facilities.

The agency says the initiative will also support the government’s broader goal of improving healthcare quality and accountability in the country.

The Fertility Society’s annual congress brought together fertility specialists, health regulators, and policymakers to discuss best practices and strengthen collaboration within Ghana’s healthcare ecosystem.

Source: Myjoyonline

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Dr. Agyemang urged governments and parliaments to move beyond policy statements and pass binding laws that ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and uphold human dignity.

The event brought together legal scholars, law students, policymakers, and AU officials under the theme “Legislating for Health Justice: Advancing Universal Health Coverage in the Pan-African Context.”

Reflecting on his flight from Accra to Addis Ababa, Dr. Agyemang said the view from above reminded him of Africa’s shared identity despite its unequal realities.

“As our Ethiopian Airlines flight soared from Accra, we crossed the skies above Togo, Benin, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan before descending over the highlands of Ethiopia. Looking down, I saw one Africa — the same rivers, forests, and farmlands, the same vibrant communities and faces. We are one people, yet our realities are profoundly different,” he said.

He likened Africa’s journey toward health justice to a continental flight, with countries traveling at different speeds due to history, governance, and resource disparities.

Dr. Agyemang emphasized that achieving health justice requires strong legal frameworks, constitutional backing, and effective parliamentary oversight.

“Health justice is the heartbeat of development. It calls for a legal order where access to quality healthcare is not a privilege for the few but a right guaranteed to every citizen,” he said. “To legislate for health justice is to legislate for human dignity.”

Drawing from Ghana’s experience, he cited the **National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)** as a landmark effort but urged continuous reforms guided by data and stakeholder input.

“Ghana’s National Health Insurance Act was a pioneering step toward equity in access. But legislative action is not a single event. It must be a living process — informed by evidence, revised financing, and stakeholder participation.”

He further stressed the importance of parliamentary oversight, describing it as “the conscience of democracy” that ensures accountability and protects the interests of citizens.

To humanize the issue, Dr. Agyemang recalled a story from his constituency:

“A few years ago, I met a young mother who had walked more than six kilometres to reach a health centre, only to find that the nurse on duty had no delivery kit. She wrapped her newborn in her own scarf and whispered that she was grateful her child had survived. That encounter taught me that legislation must not only allocate funds; it must protect dignity.”

He also highlighted stories from across the continent — from health workers in Malawi wading through floods to deliver vaccines to mobile clinics in Kenya powered by solar energy.

“These are not acts of charity; they are acts of justice in motion. They remind us that the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage is ultimately a pursuit of equity and empathy.”

Calling for deeper continental collaboration, Dr. Agyemang urged African Union member states to strengthen regional health systems, citing the African Medicines Agency and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) as examples of progress.

“Disease, like poverty, knows no borders. A child’s cough in Lagos, a cholera outbreak in Harare, or a malaria surge in Kisangani can ripple through the continent if we do not stand together. If we can integrate our skies through the African Continental Free Trade Area, surely we can integrate our health systems.”

He praised Ethiopia for its leadership in health diplomacy and called on young African lawyers to become advocates for equity and human rights.

“Every argument you present in court, every brief you write, and every policy recommendation you make can bring health closer to the people who need it most. Health justice must not be an abstract principle debated in parliaments; it must be a lived experience that touches every African home.”

Dr. Agyemang ended his address with a rallying call for unity and action.

“The future of health justice in Africa will not be written by chance. It will be written by those who stand for equity, compassion, and action. Let us legislate, innovate, and collaborate to create a continent where every citizen enjoys the right to health, the freedom to thrive, and the promise of justice.”

Participants described his message as one of the most thought-provoking contributions to the ongoing debate on health law and governance, calling it a “wake-up call” for African legislators to move from policy rhetoric to practical reforms.

Source: Adomonline

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Whatever our job, we all want to impress rather than disappoint.

But ambition can be a very slippery slope. Before you know it, work is coming home with you—seeping into weekends and disrupting time with family and friends.

Experts agree that learning to set boundaries is the way to stem the flow.

Career coach Helen Tupper, co-founder of Squiggly Careers, suggests a simple language shift can help reinforce boundaries.

She recommends replacing “I can’t” with “I don’t.”

“I can’t” invites negotiation—people might try to convince you that you actually can,” she says.

But “I don’t” is more definitive and harder to challenge.

For example, you can say, “I don’t go to meetings after 5pm on a Wednesday because I pick my kids up then,” she suggests.

Model and TV chef Lorraine Pascale says not doing this ultimately led to her burning out.

Alongside her television career, she opened a patisserie in Covent Garden and published a series of cookbooks, all whilst raising her daughter.

“I just wasn’t very good at saying no.

“You don’t want to upset people; everyone’s feeding stuff in your ear as to what you should be doing. So you just keep going,” she told BBC Woman’s Hour.

She adds that her perfectionism, including personally approving every recipe in her books, didn’t help.

For Lorraine, burnout manifested physically and mentally, including “not wanting to go near” cakes.

“It was like an all-body reaction—a tightness in my chest,” she explains. “I was having arguments with myself. A lot of self-blame, a lot of guilt, and a lot of tiredness.”

Lorraine’s experience shows burnout can affect anyone at any level, even if statistics suggest it is more likely to happen to women—in part because of added family responsibilities.

Dr. Claire Ashley, author of The Burnout Doctor, says on a practical front, sticking to a firm routine for when you finish work each day allows our brains to complete the “stress cycle” and enjoy time off.

But the real solution is adjusting your goals to your “current capacity.”

“Ask yourself whether what you want to achieve is reasonable given your mental and emotional resources at the time,” she says.

In Lorraine’s case this involved stepping back from cooking and going to therapy. This helped her understand that the toxic elements of her drive to impress stemmed from her childhood in foster care.

She’s since begun studying psychology herself and says she is “much “better”—gradually getting back into cooking on more “intentional” terms.

Of course, stress and long hours are part of any job.

But stats show an increase in the number of workers reaching breaking point.

Nine out of 10 workers have experienced high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in the past year, research suggests.

Feeling stressed or burnt out isn’t the same as having clinical burnout – even if we often use the term loosely.

Dr Ashley says exhaustion, detachment, and reduced performance are the three defining symptoms.

Unless we meet all these, we don’t yet have diagnosable burnout. But of course this doesn’t mean we’re not on the way.

‘Run your own race’

Tupper, who wrote her book after experiencing burnout herself, says it’s important to stop, celebrate and acknowledge your own successes, not just focus on the next thing.

Doing our best to avoid comparisons with colleagues can also help, so we run our own race, Tupper adds.

Of course, not everyone is in a position to push back at work – especially in corporate, or hierarchical job environments.

Dr Richard Duggins, an NHS psychiatrist and the author of Burnout-Free Working, often helps patients who feel they can’t assert boundaries.

He encourages workers to talk to their boss regardless of how junior they are.

“Most employers, even the hard-nosed ones, will listen and make adjustments when they understand that preventing burnout benefits everyone.”

He says setting boundaries, asking for help, or adjusting workload or flexibility can all help, but in the end if the workplace environment doesn’t change, then we need to make changes to protect ourselves.

Appreciating our life stages can be help with this, notes Dr Ashley.

“It’s okay to say that someone working part-time, or with family responsibilities, may not be able to match the workload of a younger colleague.”

As Lorraine puts it: “Ambitious is fine. Being ambitious is a beautiful thing, but just learn to say no more often.”

Source: BBC

As part of the church’s Evangelism Month and communal duty, Pastor Obeng led a delegation to the Asokwa Children’s Hospital in the Ashanti Region, where they donated medical equipment and other essential items.

Pastor Obeng stressed that children’s health is crucial for their future and destiny.

“We chose to donate to the children’s hospital because their health issues are very important,” he said.

“If they don’t grow to be healthy, it will be difficult for them to fulfill their destiny,” said the Pastor.

He called on religious bodies, NGOs, and philanthropists to support children’s health initiatives in the country.

The Asokwa Children’s Hospital administrator, Benjamin Wiredu, expressed gratitude to the Calvary Charismatic Centre (CCC) for the donation.

He assured that the items would be put to good use and encouraged others to emulate such acts of kindness.

Source: Joseph Obeng

A public health expert, Dr. Nana Kwaku Agyemang Duah, has reaffirmed that morning sunlight remains one of the most reliable natural sources of Vitamin D, even with changing climate conditions.

In an interview with Adom News, Dr. Duah explained that although weather patterns have become less predictable, the early morning hours — particularly around sunrise — still provide the safest and most effective window for Vitamin D absorption.

He, however, cautioned against excessive exposure to direct sunlight, noting that while moderate sun exposure is beneficial, staying too long under intense sunlight can lead to dehydration, sunburn, and, in severe cases, skin cancer.

“The ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause lasting damage to skin cells and increase the risk of skin-related diseases,” he said, adding that prolonged exposure also poses risks to the eyes, including cataracts and other vision problems.

Dr. Duah advised individuals, especially outdoor workers, to take preventive steps such as wearing sunglasses, using protective clothing, and staying hydrated to reduce the health risks associated with long hours in the sun.

Source: Sarah Oku.

Introduction
Hospital laboratories play a central role in disease diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment outcomes.

In general, laboratories play pivotal roles in disease surveillance, with the WHO estimating that about 60% to 80% of all clinical decisions, including those regarding diagnosis, treatment, and discharge, stem from outcomes of accurate and reliable laboratory investigations and data from these laboratories

(1). Despite its critical contribution to healthcare delivery, many public hospital laboratories in Ghana face significant financial and operational challenges. The lack of a dedicated funding mechanism for laboratory operations often leads to frequent shortages of reagents, malfunctioning equipment, and delayed diagnostic services. To address these challenges, there is an urgent need to establish a Hospital Laboratory Account modeled after the existing Hospital Pharmacy Account system

Background and Context
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ghana faced frequent shortages of essential medicines and significant inefficiencies in procurement. In response, the Ministry of Health (MOH) implemented the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF). Established in 1989 under the ‘cash-and-carry’ scheme, this initiative allowed health facilities to retain proceeds from drug sales to replenish their stock (3,4).

The policy aimed to ensure the continuous availability of medicines while reducing reliance on central government budget allocations. Recognized as one of the most impactful interventions in the health sector, it has fostered self-sufficiency and made affordable medicines accessible to the average Ghanaian. The policy continues to operate under the National Health Insurance System (NHIS) to this day.

Over the years, this mechanism has ensured a steady supply of drugs, improved accountability, and reduced dependence on central government funding (4,5). Public hospital laboratories continue to depend significantly on erratic budget allocations and donor funded programs, which frequently prove to be inadequate or delayed.

The lack of a consistent financial framework hampers their ability to maintain operational efficiency and respond to diagnostic needs.

The sense of professional embarrassment, moral and ethical frustration, and financial irony (given that laboratories are often seen as revenue generators for hospital facilities) substantially affects staff morale.

Furthermore, it raises questions about institutional practices, especially considering the high level of training and expertise of Ghanaian Medical Laboratory Professionals.

It is disheartening to hear the Ministry of Health suggest that outsourcing our laboratories to the highest bidders or relying on equipment placement and profit sharing alone with these hospitals will resolve Ghana’s health challenges, particularly as it attempts to separate the NHIS tariff for diagnostics.

The case of the Taylor & Taylor Company Limited offers critical insights for the Hon. Minister.

The first large-scale equipment placement initiative in the country was destined for failure due to a significant oversight, lacking a sustainable funding mechanism to ensure that the vendor would be compensated for their investment.

Consequently, the funds generated from the equipment placement were diverted into a consolidated fund within the hospitals, which, as is often the case, was poorly managed and inadequately accounted for. To address these issues, the establishment of a Hospital Laboratory Account is essential.

This initiative would enhance the efficiency, accountability, and sustainability of laboratory services within our institutions. Furthermore, it would effectively reduce diagnostic costs, modernize laboratory facilities, and equip them with the necessary tools, all of which align perfectly with the Ministry’s objectives (6,7).

The Case for a Hospital Laboratory Account
Establishing a Hospital Laboratory Account would enable laboratory units to generate, retain, and reinvest revenue from diagnostic services. Such a model, which is intended to follow the mechanisms of the Pharmacy account arrangement, would enhance efficiency, accountability, and sustainability of laboratory operations (8).

The following are additional reasons why there is an urgent need for the creation of the account: Parliament of Ghana. Health Sector Reform and Sustainability Bill (Draft). Accra: Parliament;

Sustainability of Laboratory Operations:
Establishing a dedicated account will guarantee a continuous supply of essential reagents,
consumables, and maintenance of equipment, independent of the often delayed central funding. This ring-fenced account, supported by legal provisions, would safeguard against political interference, even with changing government administrations. Unlike the current scenario, where a new government might replace existing contracts under the guise of “creating jobs for the boys,” this approach would prevent arbitrary shifts in staffing. It also avoids the risk of altering contractual agreements related to equipment placement at facilities or profit-sharing arrangements with facility management, which has been proposed by the ministry (9).

Retooling and Infrastructure Upgrade:
Funds accumulated through laboratory services could be used to procure modern diagnostic
equipment, upgrade infrastructure, and improve service delivery. The recent direction by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, asking management to return funds that were used from the Revolving Drug Fund, is enough assurance that, should the Hospital Laboratory Account be created, there would be no opportunities for mismanagement, as has become the common practice of most hospitals (8,9,10).

Enhanced Quality Assurance:
Financial autonomy would allow laboratories to allocate resources to internal and external quality control programs, accreditation, and staff capacity building, ensuring standardization and reliability of laboratory results (8,9).

Reduced Service Interruptions:
With a revolving financial mechanism, laboratories can and would quickly respond to supply
shortages, avoiding diagnostic service disruptions that affect patient care. It will also eliminate the levels of professional embarrassment, moral and ethical frustration, financial irony (considering laboratories remain the cash cow of hospital facilities), impact on staff morale and institutional reflection that are commonly witnessed in our healthcare facilities, considering the level of training and the pedigree of Ghanaian Medical Laboratory Professionals (comparable to only Nigeria in the sub region) (10).

Improved Accountability and Financial Transparency:
Like the pharmacy account, the laboratory account will promote transparency in revenue generation, procurement, and expenditure tracking (11).

Support for National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS):
By ensuring the timely provision of laboratory services, the account will enhance the strengthening of the NHIS implementation and hospital reimbursement processes (12)

Alignment with Health System Strengthening Goals:
Establishing this account would ensure alignment with the Ministry of Health’s agenda to build resilient health systems and strengthen diagnostic capacity across public hospitals (13).

Legal and Policy Considerations

While no specific Act currently mandates the establishment of a Hospital Laboratory Account, it can be instituted through policy directives from the Ministry of Health, similar to the Revolving Drug Fund. The framework could be integrated into existing hospital financial management systems and aligned with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), to ensure accountability and transparency. Clear guidelines on fund management, approved expenditures, and signatory authority that safeguard the integrity of the account (14,15).

Expected Outcomes of Establishing the Hospital Laboratory Account
The funds from the Hospital Laboratory Account is expected to provide, among others:

1. A sustainable funding source for routine and specialized laboratory services.
2. A reduction in equipment downtime and an improved diagnostic turnaround time.
3. An enhanced laboratory accreditation, quality assurance, and staff motivation.
4. An increased public confidence in laboratory services within public hospitals and
5. An improved data availability for disease surveillance and health planning (16).

Conclusion and Recommendations

In conclusion, the establishment of a Hospital Laboratory Account is not only necessary but urgent. The Hospital Pharmacy Account system has proven effective in sustaining medicine availability and promoting financial autonomy in Ghanaian hospitals (17). While not explicitly created by an Act of Parliament, its basis in MoH policy and the National Medicines Policy ensures its legitimacy and operational importance. Establishing a Hospital Laboratory Account would provide similar benefits, enhancing sustainability and efficiency of diagnostic services. As the healthcare landscape evolves toward evidence-based decision-making, robust laboratory systems form the backbone of effective diagnosis and treatment. By adopting a model like the Hospital Pharmacy Account, public hospital laboratories in Ghana would achieve financial autonomy, sustainability, and improved service delivery.

It is recommended that:

1. The Ministry of Health develops a national policy framework for Hospital Laboratory Accounts.
2. The Ministry, through its agencies, pilots the system in selected facilities to demonstrate its effectiveness.
3. Laboratory and finance departments collaborate to design transparent accounting and reporting mechanisms.
4. Parliament considers integrating laboratory financial autonomy within broader health sector reforms (18). Thank you.

Source: Dr. Dr. Felix Kodzo Besah Sorvor, President, Democratic Forum for Medical Laboratory Professionals (DFMLP), Dated 16th Oct. 2025.