By: Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
Minister for Health, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, says the success of surgery and the prevention of avoidable deaths depend largely on the readiness of health systems rather than the mere presence of hospital buildings.
Speaking at the 66th Annual Conference of the West African College of Surgeons at the UPSA Auditorium in Accra, Mr Akandoh stresses that sterilisation systems, reliable oxygen supply, timely diagnosis, functional theatres, intensive care support, blood availability, resilient supply chains and effective infection-prevention protocols form the true infrastructure of patient safety.
“These are not secondary conditions. They are the infrastructure of safety, and without them, even the best surgical skills are placed at risk,” he said.
Investment and Operational Discipline
The Health Minister explained that Ghana’s approach to improving surgical outcomes focuses on strengthening readiness through a combination of targeted investment and strict operational discipline.
According to him, health facilities must be not only constructed but also fully functional, staffed, supplied and governed to meet required standards.
“Our goal is to ensure that facilities are not just built, but are ready to deliver safe care every day,” Mr Akandoh notes.
He described the West African College of Surgeons as a key partner in accreditation and standard-setting, stressing the need to safeguard training platforms while expanding supervision and improving quality across the surgical training pipeline.
Building Capacity Beyond Numbers
Mr Akandoh says increasing surgical capacity requires more than producing higher numbers of specialists, insisting that quality must remain central to training and service delivery.
He highlighted the importance of structured mentorship, clear supervisory frameworks, competency-based assessments and consistent clinical governance.
“Capacity is not only about numbers. It is about quality, mentorship and accountability,” he states.
He added that the next generation of Surgeons must be capable of delivering services, training specialists and sustaining excellence simultaneously.
Collaboration and Inclusion
The Minister called for deeper collaboration among West African national colleges, universities and teaching hospitals, noting that strong partnerships are essential for sustainable specialist training.
He also urged deliberate efforts to improve inclusion, particularly gender balance in surgical training and leadership, to ensure that talent is identified, supported and retained.
Affordability and Patient Access
Touching on access to care, Mr Akandoh says affordability remains one of the strongest determinants of surgical outcomes in West Africa, where financial barriers often delay treatment.
He observed that many patients are forced to postpone care or resort to public appeals, allowing conditions to worsen and making interventions more complex and risky.
“Too often, clinical need is defeated by financial barriers, and patients arrive when conditions have already deteriorated,” he said.
Strengthening Health Financing in Ghana
The Health Minister said health financing must protect patients while enabling facilities to deliver quality specialist services.
He explained that Ghana is advancing complementary measures focused on prevention, protection and specialist support, including strengthening the Free Primary Healthcare Initiative to improve early detection and referral.
Mr Akandoh added that government is reinforcing the financial sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme and implementing the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, “Mahama Cares” named after President John Dramani Mahama, to support the treatment of chronic and specialised conditions such as cancer, kidney disease and cardiovascular illnesses.
“Sustainable financing must be linked to workforce development and long-term system capacity,” he noted.
Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement
Welcoming the conference’s focus on artificial intelligence in surgery and innovation in surgical education, Mr Akandoh stressed that innovation must move beyond conference discussions into training curricula, governance frameworks and service delivery.
He called for stronger research collaboration across the region, including multicentre studies that generate locally relevant evidence and systems that translate research into improved patient outcomes.
Retention and Workforce Sustainability
The Minister also addressed the growing challenge of health worker migration, describing it as a significant pressure on health systems in West Africa.
He said retention requires improved working conditions, clear career progression, continuous professional development and supportive practice environments.
Mr Akandoh added that regional engagement must become more structured through visiting faculty arrangements, remote mentorship and targeted initiatives that strengthen institutions without weakening local capacity.
Commitment to Action
The Health Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening system readiness as the most cost-effective path to safe surgery.
“The evidence is clear, the need is urgent, and the professional capacity in this room is immense. What remains is the collective decision to act and the discipline to implement,” he says.
He assured participants of the Ministry of Health’s support for the partnerships and innovations expected to emerge from the conference, congratulated the local organising committee, and wished delegates successful deliberations.
