The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has called on newly inaugurated boards of Ghana’s leading Teaching Hospitals, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons to rise to their national mandate with integrity, discipline, and measurable outcomes.
During the inaugural ceremony of these aforementioned Boards which was attended by senior officials and stakeholders in the health sector, Akandoh, underscored the critical role these boards will play in Ghana’s ongoing health transformation agenda, led by President John Dramani Mahama.
“Your appointment is not an accolade; it is a solemn call to service,” he said, stressing that the boards are now custodians of institutions central to the country’s health system.
In a clear departure from business as usual, the Minister, announced that all board members will sign performance contracts tied to key performance indicators (KPIs), with regular reviews which will be submitted to his office.
The aim, he said, is to foster a culture of results-driven governance, transparency, and efficiency.
With strong emphasis placed on fiscal discipline, the Minister, warned against wasteful administrative spending and mandated the creation of two dedicated hospital accounts—one for infrastructure upkeep and another for equipment maintenance—to ensure sustainability in service delivery.
“Maintenance is not optional. It is a foundational obligation,” he declared.
Turning to the rising abuse of opioids, Akandoh issued a stern directive to the FDA to intensify regulatory enforcement and surveillance in coordination with national security.
He called the opioid crisis a serious indictment of medicine regulation and committed to leading a national effort to contain it.
He also addressed the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, urging them to train more specialists in line with the expected demand surge under the newly launched Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also referred to as the Mahama Cares Initiative.
The fund aims to remove financial barriers to treating non-communicable diseases, bringing hope to thousands of Ghanaians in need of specialized care.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, further stressed the point that the roles of the board members are not privileges, but heavy responsibilities
“The trust placed in you is immense. Carry it with integrity and purpose,” he said.