By Sarah Baafi
Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has called for urgent reforms in surgical care delivery across West Africa, stressing that surgery must be treated as a core component of healthcare and not an optional service.
He made the call on February 9, 2026, at the opening ceremony of the 66th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) in Accra, which brought together leading surgeons, fellows, trainees, policymakers and development partners from across the sub-region and beyond.
> “Surgery is not a luxury add-on to healthcare. It is a core service without which maternal health, trauma care, cancer care and emergency response cannot be protected,” he stated.
Hon. Akandoh noted that rising urbanisation, road traffic injuries, non-communicable diseases and obstetric emergencies have significantly increased the demand for surgical services, while health systems in many countries continue to struggle with weak infrastructure and limited resources.
> “The question before us is not simply how to produce more surgeons, but whether we will build systems that allow skill to translate into safety, knowledge into access and training into real outcomes,” he said.
According to the Health Minister, safe surgical care depends largely on system readiness, including reliable oxygen supply, sterilisation systems, diagnostics, blood availability, infection prevention protocols and intensive care support.
> “These are not secondary conditions. They are the infrastructure of safety,” he emphasised.
He further stressed the need to expand surgical training while maintaining high standards through structured mentorship, effective supervision and competency-based assessments, adding that deliberate efforts must be made to improve gender balance in surgical training and leadership.
On health financing, Hon. Akandoh acknowledged that cost remains a major barrier to accessing surgical care, often forcing patients to delay treatment or abandon care altogether.
> “Too often, the clinical pathway is defeated by the financial pathway,” he observed.
He highlighted government initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges, including efforts to strengthen the National Health Insurance Scheme and the implementation of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Fund) to support patients facing catastrophic health costs such as cancer, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular conditions.
The minister disclosed that part of the fund is dedicated to specialist training, noting that sustainable financing must be linked to workforce development.
He also addressed the growing migration of health professionals from the sub-region, calling for improved working conditions, structured career progression and stronger engagement with the diaspora through visiting faculty programmes and remote mentorship.
Hon. Akandoh commended the West African College of Surgeons and its partners for the surgical outreach programme organised alongside the conference, which resulted in 855 surgeries across 11 hospitals in six regions.
> “This reflects what professional solidarity can achieve when expertise is mobilised for communities,” he said.
He concluded by urging delegates to strengthen regional collaboration in training and accreditation, commit to system readiness as the foundation for safe surgery and pursue financing models that protect patients while expanding capacity.
> “The need is urgent. The professional capacity in this room is immense. What remains is the collective decision to act and the discipline to implement,” he added.
The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s support for the outcomes of the conference and welcomed participants to Ghana, encouraging them to experience the country’s hospitality, culture and heritage.
