In a decisive push to improve healthcare governance, Ghana’s Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on May 3, 2025, officially inaugurated new governing boards for several of the country’s top teaching hospitals and health institutions.
The move marks a turning point in efforts to enhance accountability, performance, and service delivery across the sector.
Fresh boards have been constituted for, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Cape Coast, Sunyani, and Ho Teaching Hospitals, The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons
These institutions form the backbone of Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure, and the new boards are expected to bring renewed focus to governance and patient outcomes.
At the inauguration in Accra, Minister Akandoh made it clear: this isn’t business as usual.
“This is a solemn call to service,” he told the appointees.
Every board member will be required to sign performance contracts backed by measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and will report regularly to the Ministry of Health.
This signals a shift toward results-driven leadership with close ministerial oversight to ensure the boards deliver on their mandate.
In an effort to curb mismanagement and improve facility upkeep, the Minister ordered all teaching hospitals to maintain two separate accounts:
- One for routine infrastructure maintenance (like roofing and painting),
- Another for equipment upkeep, especially critical diagnostic tools.
The goal is to build a culture of proactive maintenance and financial discipline, ensuring that equipment doesn’t sit idle for months due to simple neglect.
Minister Akandoh also tackled the escalating opioid crisis, calling on the FDA to tighten enforcement and block dangerous imports.
“We cannot and will not allow this crisis to spiral further,” he declared, stressing the urgency of protecting communities from addiction and abuse.
In the same breath, he called for the expansion of specialist training in oncology, dialysis, and transplant medicine at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons aligning with the “Mahama Cares” initiative that aims to ease access to life-saving treatment for chronic illnesses.
The boards usually made up of 11 members from the medical, academic, and public sectors will be responsible for:
- Strengthening management structures
- Monitoring service quality
- Ensuring effective use of public resources
The Ministry says it will monitor their performance closely.
This sweeping reform effort reflects a broader ambition to rebuild trust in Ghana’s public healthcare system.
With new leadership, clearer accountability, and a focus on outcomes, the Ministry is betting that better governance can translate into better care for everyone.
By: J.W Quarm
