Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has called for a renewed focus on maintaining and upgrading existing health facilities while the government builds new ones. The Minister made the statement while presenting new medical equipment to the Ga North Municipal Hospital.
The equipment was presented in response to a request made by the Ga North Municipal Hospital during the Minister’s visit on August 1, 2025, when the facility revealed it was in critical need of resources to deliver effective healthcare.
Hon. Akandoh noted that the hospital, which had been operating with limited equipment, has now received over 34 different items, including anesthesia machines, incubators, and beds.
He expressed hope that the hospital’s staff would take good care of the equipment and would not rely on the government for every repair or replacement, treating the donation as a “capital investment.”
The Minister stressed that quality healthcare delivery is dependent on three core pillars: infrastructure, personnel, and equipment. He criticized the practice of allowing existing facilities to deteriorate while focusing solely on building new ones, calling it illogical.
“And so for me, it does not make sense when we allow our already existing facilities to deteriorate and pretend to be building more. In my humble opinion, that will not help this country. We must maintain and upgrade the already existing ones once we add them”, Akandoh stated, adding that this is the commitment of President John Dramani Mahama.
He reaffirmed the government’s promise to build six regional hospitals and children’s hospitals, but said they would also focus on retooling existing facilities through government procurement and public-private partnerships.
The Minister acknowledged the challenges ahead, including a workforce deficit, and appealed to healthcare professionals to “do their best to sustain our healthcare delivery.”
The Minister added that the new equipment, valued at $1.5 million, represents a significant investment in the hospital’s capacity to deliver quality healthcare.
Receiving the new equipment, Medical Superintendent Dr. Victor Caesar expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the hospital staff. He assured the Minister that the resources would be put to judicious use to enhance patient care.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
