Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has charged the newly constituted boards of six key regulatory institutions to focus on delivering tangible results rather than lamenting challenges, as the government works to overhaul and strengthen Ghana’s health system.
The boards inaugurated include the National Blood Service, National Ambulance Service, Mental Health Authority, Ghana College of Pharmacists, Allied Health Professions Council, and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council.
In a direct message during the swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Akandoh made it clear that performance, not excuses, will be the benchmark for success.
“Deliver, don’t complain,” he declared, urging members to shift from rhetoric to action in fulfilling their respective mandates.
The minister pledged his full support to the boards but was unequivocal about the need for accountability.
“I am here to support you,” he said. “But the time for complaints is over. We must all focus on performance, efficiency, and impact.”
He reserved pointed remarks for the Mental Health Authority, drawing attention to the dire state of mental healthcare in the country. With over 2.3 million Ghanaians reportedly living with mental health conditions but only 2 percent receiving formal treatment, Mr. Akandoh called for urgent and innovative responses to close the glaring service gap.
“We can no longer afford to treat mental health as secondary,” he stressed, tasking the board with taking bold steps to expand access and improve care.
The minister’s message signals a more assertive and results-oriented posture at the Ministry of Health as it attempts to tackle long-standing systemic weaknesses across Ghana’s healthcare landscape.
