By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has recorded a 74 per cent reduction in malaria deaths, falling from 277 in 2021 to 73 in 2024.
The Acting Director-General of the Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, disclosed this at the opening of this year’s Senior Managers’ Meeting (SMM) in Accra. He said the results reflect progress in malaria elimination efforts, as well as improvements in immunisation coverage, maternal and newborn care, and HIV and TB programmes.
He noted that the Service remains committed to implementing its key priorities, including reaffirming its organisational identity, enhancing staff welfare, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring a balance between clinical and public health services.
Dr Akoriyea further explained that the Service would review management structures, establish legal departments at the regional level to address increasing litigation, and focus on better redistribution of medical personnel. He added that the GHS is working with universities to expand specialist training opportunities in the regions.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, revealed that National Health Insurance coverage currently stands at 56 per cent, with health facilities now receiving prompt payments for claims. He said the government is determined to roll out free primary healthcare, emphasising that President John Dramani Mahama’s vision is to ensure that by the end of his term, about 95 per cent of Ghanaians will have access to healthcare, regardless of where they live.
He also announced that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund has been passed into law, with a board to be inaugurated soon. He described the initiative as a “game changer” under Mahama Care. He added that by January 2026, the Hohoe, Wa and Bolgatanga Regional Hospitals will begin training specialists, while dialysis machines will be deployed to all regional hospitals under a public-private partnership arrangement.
The Chairperson of the GHS Governing Council, Emeritus Prof. Fred Newton Binka, stressed the need to identify gaps and reset approaches to ensure effective governance and sustainable health financing.
On his part, the Development Partner Lead, Dr Joan Emmanuel Dewez, praised Ghana’s leadership in driving health reforms but urged increased domestic investment to sustain progress.
