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Ghana is deepening its collaboration with international health partners to promote health sovereignty and strengthen the country’s health systems.
The Ministry of Health, led by the sector Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, hosted a delegation from the Alliance for Health Policy and the Institute Research Board to discuss a US-led initiative on bilateral cooperation in pathogen sharing and health sovereignty.
Addressing the delegation, Mr. Akandoh reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to achieving health independence while maintaining strong global partnerships.
He revealed that about 45 percent of mortalities in Ghana are linked to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), a situation the government is addressing through a dedicated NCD Fund and the Free Primary Health Care programme, aimed at reinforcing community-level health systems.
“Health sovereignty for us means building systems that can serve our people effectively while still engaging global partners for knowledge exchange and innovation,” the Minister said.
Mr. Akandoh also outlined government’s strategy to curb health workforce migration by optimising local recruitment and pursuing structured international collaborations.
So far, 14 countries have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Ghana to promote mutual support in the health sector — a move he described as a “balanced approach between sovereignty and cooperation.”
He further disclosed that Ghana has reached a verbal agreement with an international partner to support policy development for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the health sector and the retooling of primary health facilities.
Former WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, commended the government’s forward-looking health initiatives under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.
She praised Ghana’s progress in health financing through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and encouraged the country to extend its leadership in health innovation to other African nations.
Mr. Akandoh reaffirmed that the well-being of Ghanaians remains the Ministry’s top priority, adding that Ghana seeks to be a model of health sovereignty and equitable healthcare delivery across the continent.
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