GHS director-general urges stronger leadership and accountability to support free primary healthcare
Story by: Regina Bless
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has called on health service administrators to strengthen leadership, improve facility management and promote accountability to ensure the successful implementation of the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
He made the call at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Health Service Administrators, Ghana (AHSAG), held in Tamale under the theme, “Building Resilient Free Primary Healthcare Systems for Universal Health Coverage: The Leadership Role of Health Service Administrators.”
Addressing participants, Dr. Akoriyea stressed the importance of merit-based appointments, professional competence and performance monitoring in the administration of health facilities. He assured members that appointments within the Ghana Health Service would be guided by the requirements of advertised vacancies, with performance remaining a key consideration.
He also urged administrators to prioritise the cleanliness, maintenance and general appearance of healthcare facilities to make them more welcoming and responsive to patients’ needs.
On security, the GHS Director-General emphasised the need for health facilities to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to improve security and protect public assets.
Dr. Akoriyea further expressed concern about inadequate maintenance of vehicles, motorbikes and biomedical equipment, warning that poor maintenance could disrupt operations and compromise healthcare delivery.
“If the transport unit cannot maintain our cars and motorbikes, and our biomedical engineers cannot maintain the equipment, then there is an issue that needs to be fixed,” he stressed.
He called for a coordinated approach to facility management, urging administrators to ensure that available resources were used responsibly and essential equipment remained operational.
Dr. Akoriyea also highlighted the critical role of health service administrators in implementing the Free Primary Healthcare initiative. He urged them to strengthen operational systems, identify gaps in service delivery and take practical steps to improve the quality of care provided to the public.
“Let us evaluate ourselves and examine what we do. Let us develop our facilities ourselves so that we can appreciate the services they provide and feel confident receiving care there,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President of AHSAG, Rev. Ezekiel Amadu Daribi, commended the government for its health initiatives, particularly Free Primary Healthcare and the Mahama Cares programme.
He noted that the success of such policies depended largely on effective administration and strong governance structures within healthcare facilities.
Rev. Daribi called on the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) to prioritise the recruitment of qualified health service administrators to ensure the efficient management of healthcare institutions.
“This year’s theme reminds us of a fundamental truth: good healthcare requires good administration and good corporate governance,” he noted.
He explained that effective healthcare delivery required proper planning, procurement, accounting, maintenance and coordination, adding that administrators played a crucial role in translating government policies into practical results.
The AHSAG President therefore urged members to remain committed to their professional responsibilities and help build resilient healthcare systems capable of responding to the needs of the population and advancing Universal Health Coverage.
The AGM brought together health sector leaders, professional associations, partners and administrators from across the country to discuss challenges and opportunities in health administration, with particular emphasis on leadership, accountability, facility management and service delivery.
Among those present were the Northern Regional Director of Health Service, Dr. Chrysantus Kubio; the Guest Speaker, Dr. Abdulai Tinorga; the Chairman of the National Council of AHSAG, Dr. Kwasi Addai-Donkoh; and the Sakpe Naa, who chaired the occasion.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of professional competence, effective leadership and responsible resource management in strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system.
As the government advances its Free Primary Healthcare agenda, health service administrators are expected to play a central role in ensuring that healthcare facilities are well-managed, adequately maintained and prepared to provide accessible, quality and sustainable healthcare to all Ghanaians.