By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey, GNA
Accra, Nov. 5, GNA – Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has called on health development partners to realign their support with national priorities.
He said this would strengthen ownership, sustainability, and accountability in health delivery.
At a GHS Health Partners Meeting in Accra, Dr Akoriyea commended development partners for their sustained technical and financial support, noting that it had significantly advanced progress in key health areas, including immunisation, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, and health security.
He noted that recent trends in development assistance, such as increased earmarked funding, partner-led implementation, and reliance on third-party actors, have led to fragmentation within the health system.
“The Ghana Health Service is transitioning into a new era of accountability, efficiency, and system leadership, and its development architecture must evolve with it,” he said.
Dr Akoriyea stressed the need to harmonise activities, coordinate capacity-building efforts, and avoid duplication.
“Our staff are increasingly stretched by the volume of meetings, trainings, and partner activities, which sometimes compromise core service delivery. We need to ensure that capacity-building is equitable, coordinated, and linked to productivity outcomes,” he said.
Dr Akoriyea called for strengthened national coordination mechanisms, harmonised work plans, joint planning aligned with national priorities, regular partner roundtables, and shared accountability frameworks.
He highlighted key initiatives shaping the sector’s future, including the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Free Primary Health Care, and 24-Hour Health Services under the 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Dr Akoriyea reiterated the need for GHS and its partners to function as one health system, guided by a unified national plan and delivering a common health outcome for all residents.
He urged partners to recommit to alignment, transparency, and mutual accountability, with the Ministry of Health and Government of Ghana leading health development efforts.
The meeting brought together sector leaders, development partners, country representatives, and GHS directors to discuss coordination and sustainability of current and future health programmes.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey