By: Shaharan Suhuyini ]
Thee Minister of Health, Dr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has appealed to health professionals across the country not to view postings to district facilities as punishment, but rather as essential national service contributing to equitable healthcare delivery.
He made the call during his working visit to the Savannah Region, where he inspected health institutions, engaged students, and announced major infrastructural commitments.
Dr. Akandoh reminded health workers that the strength of Ghana’s healthcare system depends on the presence of skilled professionals in every district, not only in major cities.
“I have consistently been appealing to health professionals that they should not see postings into the Districts as punishment. They should see it as part of the resetting agenda, they should see it as equitable distribution of the human resources we have in the country.”
Dr. Akandoh further revealed that “this year, we are posting about 700 medical doctors and we are closing the cities because already we have more than half of our medical doctors in Accra and it environs, and so there are some Districts you go and we don’t have any medical doctor at all and others have only one medical doctor. We have insisted that we have about 80 to 90 percent of these junior medical doctors posted to the Districts.”
He admonished the Regional Minister, district chief executives, chiefs and opinion leaders to show much interest in the welfare of the health professionals that are posted into their Districts.
“What we have decided in Savannah alone this year, we have posted about twenty medical doctors into the region and I hear about fifteen of them have responded and are coming within the week,” the Minister posited.
A highlight of the Minister’s visit was the confirmation that the government is moving ahead with the construction of the Savannah Regional Hospital, one of the six regional hospitals promised by the NDC government during the 2024 campaign. The 2026 Budget places the Savannah Region among the first three regions earmarked for commencement.
In a major boost to the project, the Yagbonwura, Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, has donated 110 acres of land for the hospital. Dr. Akandoh expressed profound gratitude to the traditional authority, while stressing the need for proper documentation to prevent future land disputes that could derail progress.
On his part, the Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awuribe who led the Health Minister to the sites assured him that the paper works will be fast tracked for a smooth start of the project.
During visits to the Damongo and Bole Nursing Training Colleges, the Minister encouraged students to take their academic and practical training seriously in order to benefit from the expanding opportunities within the health sector.
He also addressed concerns over trainee allowances, assuring students that the government will settle the two months of arrears by the end of November 2025.
In Bole, Dr. Akandoh announced government’s intention to construct a new district hospital, a move expected to significantly enhance healthcare delivery and reduce referrals to distant facilities
