By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey
Accra, Nov. 27, GNA – Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Acting Director-General, Ghana Health Service (GHS), has been honoured with the Diplomatic Service Medal by the Government of the Republic of Korea for his exceptional contribution to strengthening Ghana–Korea cooperation in health.
The award was presented at the 2025 Development Cooperation Day ceremony in Seoul, held on the theme: “Together for Global Prosperity.”
The Prime Minister of South Korea, Lee Jae-Myung, who decorated Dr Akoriyea with the medal, commended his outstanding and meritorious service in advancing friendly relations and development partnerships between the two countries.
A statement by the GHS said Dr Akoriyea was internationally recognized as one of Ghana’s foremost health administrators and reform-driven leaders.
“With more than two decades of service, he has served in critical national roles including Director of Institutional Care, Clinical Auditor and Deputy Director at the National Ambulance Service, and now Acting Director-General of the GHS,” it said.
Dr Akoriyea is credited with leading major reforms in emergency and critical care, hospital management, patient safety, biomedical engineering, and health infrastructure development initiatives that have expanded Ghana’s capacity to deliver equitable and people-centered healthcare.
“A pivotal achievement in Dr. Akoriyea’s career was his role in establishing the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) partnership in Ghana,” the statement said.
As a former Director of Institutional Care, he championed the diplomatic engagement that paved the way for the establishment of the KOFIH Country Office, which has since grown into one of Ghana’s most successful bilateral health cooperation platforms.
KOFIH has implemented several interventions that continue to shape Ghana’s health system, including maternal and newborn health improvement programmes, training for biomedical and clinical staff, support for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), disability-friendly hospital initiatives, and strengthened surveillance and laboratory systems.
The statement said Dr Akoriyea had also been a strong advocate for the work of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Ghana, collaborating closely on health systems strengthening, public health capacity-building, WASH in health facilities, digital innovation, and community-level health interventions.
It said his recognition in Seoul, reflected Ghana’s rising influence in global health diplomacy and underscored the value of sustained partnerships in improving national health outcomes.
The Ghana Health Service congratulated Dr Akoriyea on the award, describing it as “a testament to his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to global cooperation for better health.”
It said the achievements embodied the spirit of this year’s Development Cooperation Day theme and reinforced Ghana’s dedication to building a resilient and internationally connected health system.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe