By Savannah Pokuaah Duah
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to leading health reforms driven by national priorities rather than donor agendas.
This was stated during a high-level meeting with a delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, led by Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the Regional Director for Africa.
The meeting, which took place ahead of the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit scheduled for August 5, 2025, aimed to strengthen collaboration and align with Africa’s evolving health priorities.
Minister Akandoh outlined key government initiatives, including the expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme, the introduction of the Primary Health Care for All policy, and the creation of strategic health financing mechanisms such as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
Dr Janabi commended Ghana for its proactive stance in addressing global funding cuts and lauded the country’s leadership in charting a path towards sustainable health financing. He also praised Ghana’s progress in making primary healthcare free, calling it a commendable step in the right direction.
The discussions focused on the importance of regional integration in health programming, cooperation, and the local production of essential medicines. Minister Akandoh reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to support regional self-reliance, citing the strength of the country’s regulatory institutions, particularly the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and the operationalisation of the National Vaccine Institute.
Both parties agreed to maintain close coordination to ensure practical and result-driven outcomes for the continent. The meeting served as a platform to reaffirm their commitment to health sovereignty, increased domestic investment in health, and reduced external dependency.
