The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Her Excellency Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has paid a historic working visit to the Ministry of Health as part of her oversight responsibilities on the Ministries of Health, Education, and Gender and Social Protection. This visit, the first of its kind, underscores government’s commitment to strengthening the health sector and ensuring effective service delivery to all Ghanaians.
During her remarks, the Vice President reaffirmed her personal commitment to the health sector, stressing that healthcare delivery remains central to national development. She commended the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, for his dedication and leadership, assuring him of her continuous support to ensure progress in the sector. She also praised the Minister’s unannounced visits to health facilities, noting that such initiatives would help improve productivity and ensure quality healthcare across the country.
In his response, Hon. Akandoh highlighted key achievements under his leadership, despite the challenges posed by recent outbreaks of cholera, meningitis, and mpox. Notable interventions include:
Placement of over 10,000 health professionals on government payroll, with 7,000 already receiving salaries.
The uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), leading to prompt payment of claims and the clearance of a ₵600 million debt.
Reduction of nursing trainees’ fees by 50%, with all outstanding arrears cleared and allowances paid on time.
Strategic retooling of major hospitals and upgrading of nursing training institutions.
Progress on the Agenda 111 project, with three facilities already over 70% complete.
Significantly, the Minister also outlined new commitments directly benefiting the National Ambulance Service (NAS). These include:
Plans to establish a dedicated source of funding for NAS, ensuring long-term sustainability for pre-hospital emergency care.
Efforts to secure funding for the procurement of spare parts to restore out-of-commission ambulances, thereby strengthening nationwide emergency response capacity.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of NAS, Dr. George Kojo Owusu, joined the meeting, reaffirming the Service’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry and other stakeholders in delivering swift and reliable emergency medical services across the country.
The historic visit by the Vice President signals a renewed era of accountability, investment, and innovation in Ghana’s health sector. It also highlights the government’s recognition of the National Ambulance Service as a critical pillar in healthcare delivery and national development.
