The Ministry of Health has begun a comprehensive three-day review of the government’s performance in implementing key healthcare commitments outlined in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 manifesto, with officials assessing achievements, challenges and strategies needed to accelerate reforms across the health sector.
The exercise, which commenced in Ho in the Volta Region on Saturday, August 15, 2026, is being led by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. It has brought together heads of agencies, institutions and programmes operating under the Ministry of Health to evaluate progress made during the first phase of the government’s healthcare agenda.
According to the ministry, the review forms part of efforts to ensure that campaign promises made to Ghanaians are translated into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery and access across the country. The assessment is expected to provide a detailed picture of the status of major health interventions and identify areas where additional resources and policy attention may be required.
Officials say the review will focus on measuring progress, addressing implementation bottlenecks and developing practical solutions to accelerate the delivery of critical healthcare projects and programmes.
A key area under consideration is the government’s flagship Free Primary Healthcare programme, which seeks to expand access to essential health services and reduce the financial burden on citizens seeking medical care. The initiative has been widely promoted as a cornerstone of the government’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage and improve health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Another major programme being reviewed is the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCare. The initiative was introduced to provide financial support for the treatment and management of chronic and life-threatening illnesses, easing the burden on patients and their families. Health officials are expected to assess the programme’s reach, funding mechanisms and impact since its implementation.
The review is also examining efforts to expand and strengthen the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which remains one of the country’s most important healthcare financing mechanisms. Discussions are expected to focus on enrolment levels, service coverage, claims management and strategies to improve efficiency and sustainability within the scheme.
In addition, participants are assessing the government’s efforts to retool health facilities nationwide. The programme includes the procurement and distribution of modern medical equipment, upgrading healthcare infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of hospitals and clinics to provide quality services.
Special attention is also being given to specialized nursing programmes aimed at improving healthcare delivery through the training and deployment of skilled professionals in critical areas of medical care. Health sector leaders are expected to evaluate the effectiveness of these programmes and determine how they can be expanded to meet growing healthcare demands.
Infrastructure development remains another major focus of the assessment. The government’s commitment to constructing regional hospitals in the six newly created regions is being reviewed to determine the level of progress achieved so far. These projects are expected to improve access to specialist healthcare services and reduce pressure on existing facilities in other regions.
The establishment of cataract centres across the country is also being assessed as part of efforts to strengthen eye care services and reduce preventable blindness. The centres are intended to provide specialized treatment and surgeries for patients suffering from cataracts and related eye conditions.
Participants are further examining progress made toward formalizing allowances for nursing trainees, a longstanding issue within the health sector. The government has pledged to provide sustainable support for trainee nurses while improving training conditions and ensuring a steady supply of qualified healthcare professionals.
The recruitment of additional health workers is another critical area under review. Health authorities are expected to assess ongoing recruitment efforts aimed at addressing staffing shortages in hospitals, clinics and community health facilities across the country.
The completion of abandoned health projects is also expected to feature prominently during the discussions. Several health infrastructure projects initiated under previous administrations have remained stalled for years, limiting healthcare access in affected communities. The government has repeatedly pledged to complete such projects and put them into operation to enhance healthcare delivery.
According to the Ministry of Health, heads of agencies, institutions and programmes will present reports detailing achievements recorded under their respective mandates. They are also expected to highlight challenges encountered and propose interventions needed to accelerate implementation.
Beyond reviewing programme performance, the gathering includes training sessions in Public Financial Management. The ministry says the training is intended to strengthen accountability, improve the management of public resources and ensure that funds allocated to healthcare programmes are utilized efficiently and transparently.
Officials believe that effective financial management is essential to sustaining health sector reforms and maximizing the impact of government investments in healthcare. The three-day review underscores the government’s determination to monitor progress and ensure that healthcare commitments remain on track. By bringing together key stakeholders within the health sector, the ministry hopes to identify practical solutions to existing challenges while promoting collaboration among agencies responsible for implementing healthcare programmes.
The Ministry of Health maintains that the ultimate goal of the exercise is to ensure that government policies and commitments result in measurable improvements in healthcare delivery. Authorities say success will be determined not only by the completion of projects and programmes but also by the extent to which citizens experience better access to quality, affordable and equitable healthcare services.
As deliberations continue in Ho, expectations remain high that the review will help shape the next phase of healthcare reforms and strengthen efforts to deliver on the promises made to Ghanaians under the NDC’s 2024 healthcare agenda.
Philbert Amiba Ayuusah