The Ministry of Health has commenced a three day mid year assessment of the government’s major healthcare commitments contained in the National Democratic Congress 2024 Manifesto, as authorities seek to measure progress and identify areas requiring accelerated implementation.
The review began in Ho on Saturday, August 15, 2026, under the leadership of the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, with chief executives, directors and heads of agencies, institutions and programmes operating under the Ministry participating in the exercise.
According to the Ministry, the meeting has been convened to evaluate the progress achieved so far in delivering the government’s healthcare agenda, identify obstacles affecting implementation and determine measures required to strengthen the execution of its key policy commitments.
Among the principal initiatives being examined is the Free Primary Healthcare programme, which remains one of the government’s central healthcare commitments. Officials are also assessing the implementation of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCare, alongside efforts to broaden access to the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The review is further examining the retooling of healthcare facilities across the country and the introduction of specialised nursing programmes intended to expand professional capacity within Ghana’s health sector.
The Ministry said heads of agencies and programmes would provide detailed reports on their respective areas of responsibility, outlining accomplishments recorded so far, difficulties encountered during implementation and the interventions required to quicken the delivery of outstanding commitments.
“All heads of agencies and programmes under the Ministry will present updates on their respective areas, highlighting achievements, challenges and measures required to accelerate implementation,” the Ministry stated.
Attention is also being given to the construction of regional hospitals in the six newly established regions, with officials expected to provide updates on the status of the projects and the challenges affecting their completion.
The establishment of cataract treatment centres is another component of the assessment, reflecting the government’s broader objective of expanding access to specialised medical services and reducing preventable causes of visual impairment.
The Ministry is also reviewing plans concerning the formalisation of allowances for nursing trainees, as well as the recruitment of additional healthcare professionals to strengthen staffing levels across the country’s health facilities.
The completion of abandoned health projects will equally feature prominently in the discussions, with agency heads expected to identify stalled projects, explain the difficulties surrounding them and outline practical measures that could facilitate their completion.
Beyond evaluating policy implementation, the three day gathering will also include training in Public Financial Management. The exercise is intended to strengthen the capacity of health sector managers to administer public funds responsibly while promoting greater efficiency, transparency and accountability in the utilisation of state resources.
The Ministry of Health says the review is ultimately designed to ensure that the government’s healthcare commitments move beyond policy declarations and translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Ghanaians.
The assessment is therefore expected to provide a clearer picture of progress made during the year while identifying areas where additional intervention, resources or institutional coordination may be necessary.
Through the exercise, the Ministry aims to strengthen the implementation of policies intended to expand access to healthcare, improve the quality of medical services and make healthcare more affordable and equitable for people across Ghana.
