Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announces GH‵32bn health expenditure for 2026

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced a projected GH‵32 billion expenditure for the health sector in 2026, marking a significant commitment to expanding medical services across Ghana. Speaking at a Health Sector Update Engagement in Accra, the Minister emphasised that these investments are vital to improving service access and prioritising healthcare as a pillar of national development. Central to this financial plan is the expansion of the Free Primary Healthcare programme, which is set to increase its reach from 135 to 150 districts this year, providing early screening and treatment options at approximately 4,500 facilities.

To support this expansion, the government intends to bolster the health workforce by recruiting 8,000 additional health professionals specifically designated for primary and rural healthcare roles. Addressing the logistical challenges of reaching remote communities, the ministry has already provided 7,000 motorbikes and tricycles to health workers. Furthermore, Minister Akandoh reported that the government has paid GH‵2.1 billion in National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims to various healthcare providers, a move aimed at ensuring the financial sustainability of the nation's health facilities.

Infrastructure and technology also feature prominently in the ministry's forward-looking agenda. The government is currently overseeing the construction of six regional hospitals and a new 400-bed facility at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which is slated for completion by 2027. To address the persistent "no bed syndrome" in public hospitals, a new digital bed management system is being implemented to improve patient flow. These initiatives, coupled with the establishment of two new cardiology centers, reflect the government's strategy to enhance both specialized care and universal health coverage for all Ghanaians.