By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu, GNA
Bolgatanga, March 25, GNA – The top management and staff of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Upper East Region on Wednesday, made a vibrant cultural statement when they appeared in traditional smocks, popularly known as Fugu on the second day of their 2025 Annual Performance Review meeting.
The sartorial choice follows President John Dramani Mahama’s official declaration of Wednesdays as “National Fugu or Batakari Day”.
The initiative aims to bolster the local textile industry, provide vital support to weavers in the north, and showcase the richness of Ghanaian heritage within public and corporate spaces.
Leading the staff, Dr Braimah Baba Abubakari, the Regional Director of Health Services, set the tone in a resplendent Fugu paired with a matching traditional hat.
The aesthetic was echoed by his Deputies, Municipal and District Directors, and senior staff, transforming the formal gathering into a sea of woven artistry.
Apart from the cultural display, the meeting focused on the critical theme: “Strengthening health systems for sustainable and equitable access to quality healthcare: the role of monitoring and supportive supervision.”
The two-day event drew a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ghana Education Service, Veterinary officials, members of the Regional Health Committee, health-focused Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) among others.
The review serves as a primary platform for the Directorate to evaluate its milestones from the previous year and strategize on improving healthcare delivery across the region for the year ahead.
In a solidarity message, delivered on behalf of Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Director-General of the Service by Dr Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, the Director of Institutional Care Division, who was also dressed in Fugu, noted that the annual performance review meeting was an important tradition within the Service.
“It provides us with the opportunity to reflect honestly on our performance, examine lessons learned and reaffirm our shared commitment to continue improvement and accountability to the people of Ghana,” he said.
Dr Akoriyea expressed appreciation to all staff in the region for their dedication, resilience and unwavering commitment to duty, and indicated that despite systematic operational gaps, constrained resources and challenging working environments, staff continued to deliver essential health services with professionalism and sacrifice.
“Let us continue to serve with integrity, lead with purpose and work together to improve the health and well-being of every Ghanaian,” the DG said.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah