Ghana Minute.
Saturday, 19 September 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Saturday, 19 September 2026
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Ghanaian press · Person

Kwabena Mintah Akandoh

Also known as: Mr Akandoh · Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh · Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh · Mr Mintah Akandoh · Mr. Akandoh · Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh · Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh · Mr Akando · Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh

Health Minister of Ghana overseeing the Free Primary Healthcare programme, nurse recruitment initiatives, and vaccine manufacturing partnerships.

2026-04-242026-09-19

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. September 2026
  2. Daily Guide

    The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the agreement went beyond creating employment opportunities, stressing that any deployment arrangement must protect the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers.

    Ghana, Columbus Sign Deal To Recruit Nurses
  3. The Chronicle

    Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the agreement “goes beyond recruitment” and that any deployment must protect workers’ rights, welfare and professional interests — a characterization from the minister rather than a detail independently verifiable from the MoU’s text, w

    Ghana signs US deal to send nurses to Columbus, Ohio
  4. Joy Online

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 15, the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the arrangement is part of the Ministry’s efforts to create credible and decent international employment opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals.

    Health Ministry secures new US employment pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses
  5. The Ghanaian Times

    The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the MoU goes beyond recruitment, stressing that any deployment arrangement must protect the rights, welfare and professional interests of Ghanaian health workers.

    Ghana, Columbus partner to recruit nurses for US jobs
  6. Joy Online

    Ginther, Ghana’s Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum.

    Ghana, City of Columbus sign MoU to establish nursing partnership programme
  7. Joy Online

    Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, says the government is recruiting 16,000 health professionals to support the implementation of the government Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) programme towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

    Government recruits 16,000 health personnel to support FPHC programme – Health Minister
  8. Daily Guide

    se the government was going to increase the price of a bag of cocoa and the money will be unprecedented. “Later the government reduced the price from the over GH¢3,000 it came to meet to GH¢2,500 and our MPs who are key figures in the government, including Sampson Ahi and Akandoh

    NDC MPs Disappoint Cocoa Farmers In Sefwi
  9. Joy Online

    Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has charged District Directors of Health Services (DDHS) to take ownership of the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) policy, stressing that its effective implementation largely depends on what happens at the district and community levels.

    Health Minister charges district directors to take ownership of Free Primary Healthcare initiative
  10. Joy Online

    He also appealed to the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to release funds to facilitate the repair of more than 50 broken-down ambulances across the country.

    Lawra MP restores ambulance, commissions modern laboratory at Domwine Health Centre
  11. Joy Online

    27.‎‎The programme is currently being implemented through 4,447 health facilities, comprising 3,774 Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, 632 health centres and 41 polyclinics.‎‎‎Speaking at a media engagement in Accra on Monday, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh

    ‎Free Primary Healthcare reaches 135 districts
Politics

Ghana, Columbus sign nurse recruitment deal for US employment

The News

Ghana's Ministries of Health and Labour have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Columbus, Ohio, to establish a pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses to obtain employment in the United States. The agreement provides a framework for ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals while protecting their rights and welfare in line with international standards.

16 September 2026 · Daily Guide

Wednesday 16 September

  1. Ghana, Columbus sign nurse recruitment deal for US employment

    Ghana's Ministries of Health and Labour have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Columbus, Ohio, to establish a pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses to obtain employment in the United States. The agreement provides a framework for ethical recruitment and deployment of Ghanaian health professionals while protecting their rights and welfare in line with international standards.

    16 September 2026 · Daily Guide

Tuesday 15 September

  1. Ghana signs MoU with Columbus, Ohio for nurse deployment

    Ghana's Ministry of Health signed a framework agreement with the City of Columbus, Ohio, opening a pathway for Ghanaian nurses to work in the United States. The MoU does not specify numbers, timelines, or job terms, and Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh stressed that any deployment must protect workers' rights and professional interests.

    15 September 2026 · The Chronicle

  2. Ghana secures US employment pathway for qualified nurses

    The Ministry of Health has secured an agreement with the City of Columbus, Ohio, to create a pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses to access employment opportunities in the United States. The arrangement follows technical discussions and is intended to enable ethical recruitment and deployment of health professionals while protecting their rights and welfare.

    15 September 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Ghana and Columbus sign agreement to recruit nurses for US employment

    Ghana's Ministries of Health and Labour have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Columbus, Ohio, to create a pathway for qualified Ghanaian nurses to work in the United States. The agreement emphasizes ethical recruitment and deployment while protecting the rights and welfare of Ghanaian health professionals.

    15 September 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

  4. Ghana, Columbus sign nursing partnership accord

    Ghana and the City of Columbus, Ohio signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Ghana-Columbus Nursing Partnership Programme, aimed at strengthening nursing education, workforce development, and healthcare collaboration, and creating pathways for qualified Ghanaian nurses to enter Ohio's healthcare workforce. The agreement, signed on September 14, 2026, by Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Ghana's Health and Labour ministers, builds on a Sister-City agreement between Columbus and Greater Accra established in 2015.

    15 September 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 14 September

  1. Government recruits 16,000 health personnel for FPHC programme

    The Minister of Health says the government is recruiting 16,000 health professionals to support the Free Primary Health Care programme towards achieving Universal Health Coverage, with 8,000 already recruited and posted to health facilities and 8,000 more planned. He noted that health professionals are increasingly accepting postings to underserved areas including the Upper West region, and that the government has placed 13,500 nurses on the payroll and cleared their arrears.

    14 September 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 11 September

  1. NPP chair alleges NDC MPs neglected cocoa farmers' pledges

    The Sefwi Wiawso Constituency Chairman of the NPP has accused the NDC's eight regional MPs of failing to pressure President Mahama to honour campaign promises to cocoa farmers, including polytanks for irrigation and a cocoa price of over GH¢6,000 per bag; the current price is GH¢2,500.

    11 September 2026 · Daily Guide

  2. Health Minister urges district directors to lead Free Primary Healthcare rollout

    Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has charged District Directors of Health Services to take ownership of implementing the Free Primary Healthcare policy, stating that its success depends on what happens at the district and community levels, and that the policy complements the National Health Insurance Scheme to strengthen preventive, promotive, and curative healthcare.

    11 September 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 9 September

  1. Lawra MP restores ambulance, opens laboratory at health centre

    The Member of Parliament for Lawra has restored the municipal ambulance, grounded for over two years, and commissioned a fully equipped laboratory at Domwine Health Centre. The ambulance refurbishment cost more than GH₵130,000, exceeding the initial GH₵50,000 estimate for engine replacement.

    9 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Free Primary Healthcare expanded to 135 districts nationwide

    Ghana has expanded its Free Primary Health Care programme to 135 districts across 16 regions through 4,447 health facilities, with a goal of nationwide coverage by 2027. The government has distributed essential equipment, motorbikes and tricycles, and prefabricated health kiosks to support community-level healthcare delivery.

    9 September 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 8 September

  1. Health Minister warns workers against illegal fees for free primary care

    Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh warned health workers against demanding payment from patients for services covered under the government's Free Primary Healthcare programme, saying those found charging beneficiaries would face investigation and possible sanctions. He urged the public to report health workers demanding illegal payments and clarified that beneficiaries in the 135 districts implementing the programme do not need an active NHIS card to access services.

    8 September 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 7 September

  1. Ghana signs agreement to boost vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing

    Ghana has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 21, 2026, to participate in the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism, giving Ghanaian pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers access to a larger continental market and creating more predictable demand for locally manufactured health products.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Ghanaian vaccine makers gain continental market access via Africa CDC deal

    Ghana has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to join the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism, granting Ghanaian vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturers access to a market of about 1.4 billion people across all 55 African Union member states.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 5 September

  1. Health Minister to brief media on Free Primary Healthcare programme

    The Minister of Health is scheduled to brief the media on Monday, September 7, 2026, on the implementation of Ghana's Free Primary Healthcare Programme, launched in April 2026 to provide free basic medical services at primary health facilities.

    5 September 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 3 September

  1. GMTF Administrator praises Health Minister's guidance in first year

    The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund has praised Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh for his guidance, candour and commitment during the Fund's first year of operations, noting that his collaborative approach to difficult decisions helped shape the Fund's progress.

    3 September 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 2 September

  1. Health Minister meets Global Fund on commodity shortages, sustainability

    Ghana's Health Minister engaged a Global Fund delegation to address shortages of essential health commodities and strengthen programmes for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. The Minister reported that Ghana had committed US$38.5 million, representing 85 per cent of its US$45 million co-financing obligation under the Global Fund's seventh grant cycle.

    2 September 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 28 August

  1. Nalerigu youth demand Health Minister resolve nursing principal's suspension

    The Nalerigu Youth Association has given Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh two weeks to resolve the suspension of Nalerigu Nursing and Midwifery College Principal Ibrahim Chimsi, arguing that the Ministry should have used transparent procedures and corrective measures rather than immediate suspension over the college admitting students beyond its approved quota.

    28 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 25 August

  1. Mahama calls for responsive healthcare regulation, workforce collaboration

    President Mahama has called for a more responsive healthcare regulatory system to improve patient safety at the 28th Annual Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa in Accra. He also called for greater collaboration among African countries to train more healthcare professionals and ensure fairer distribution of the continent's medical workforce.

    25 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Mahama opens 28th AMCOA Conference on healthcare regulation

    President Mahama opened the 28th Annual Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa in Accra, calling on African nations to take charge of and protect their healthcare systems. The five-day conference, themed "Responsive Regulation for Safer Communities Towards Universal Health Coverage," addresses the role of effective healthcare regulation in achieving universal health coverage across Africa.

    25 August 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 24 August

  1. Ghana receives €2 million for pharmaceutical research and vaccine innovation

    Eight Ghanaian research institutions and pharmaceutical companies have been awarded €2 million in grants under the PharmaVax Ghana programme to develop vaccines, medicines, and health products. The projects, jointly funded by Germany and the EU and implemented by GIZ, cover innovations in malaria treatment, monoclonal antibodies, diagnostics, and herbal remedies for various conditions.

    24 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Medi-Moses demonstrates 30-year track record converting research into medicines

    As Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh calls for Ghanaian researchers to commercialize discoveries into medicines and vaccines, Dr De-Gaulle Moses Dogbatsey of Medi-Moses Group has spent nearly 30 years converting plant-medicine research into herbal products distributed across Ghana, exemplifying the local production agenda outlined at the Research Meets Manufacturing award ceremony under the PharmaVax Ghana programme.

    24 August 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 22 August

  1. Global Mercy hospital ship arrives in Tema for ten-month mission

    The world's largest civilian hospital ship, Global Mercy, has arrived at the Port of Tema to undertake a 10-month medical mission in Ghana—the fifth field service by Mercy Ships in the country. The mission will provide between 1,950 and 2,600 free surgeries, 1,610 to 2,145 dental treatments, and training for 100 to 250 local healthcare professionals.

    22 August 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 20 August

  1. Ghana health minister urges African cooperation on disease outbreaks

    Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh called for deeper health cooperation among African countries to detect and contain disease outbreaks before they spread across borders, citing current Ebola spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He emphasized the need for improved information and technology sharing, increased local pharmaceutical investment, and inter-country solidarity.

    20 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Eight research partnerships awarded €2m for vaccine and drug development

    Eight research partnerships have been awarded €2m in grants under the PharmaVax Ghana programme to develop new vaccines and medicines, including child-friendly malaria medicines, plant-based therapies, and AI-assisted antibody discovery for malaria and Mpox. The programme, funded by Germany and the EU, will also provide technical assistance to help researchers commercialise health products for local and regional markets.

    20 August 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Ghana activates Ebola surveillance at borders and health facilities

    Ghana has stepped up surveillance at points of entry and health facilities amid a surge in Ebola cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the country has activated its surveillance systems and is working with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research to strengthen testing and response capacity.

    20 August 2026 · Joy Online

  4. Ghana hosts Africa CDC regional health security meeting

    Ghana is hosting a two-day annual meeting of the Regional Technical Advisory Committee of the Africa CDC and Western Africa Regional Coordinating Centre to strengthen regional health security, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness across West Africa. The Health Minister highlighted lessons from COVID-19 and Ebola outbreaks, and emerging threats such as mpox and Marburg, as reasons for strengthening cross-border collaboration and surveillance systems.

    20 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 18 August

  1. Ghana seeks to reduce maternal mortality, falls short of WHO goals

    Ghana's maternal mortality ratio has improved from 943 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 234 in 2023, but remains above the WHO benchmark of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. President Mahama's government has made reducing maternal mortality a national priority, viewing preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications as a critical health challenge.

    18 August 2026 · Daily Guide

Monday 17 August

  1. Ghana pursues five-year plan to reduce medicine import dependence

    President Mahama announced a five-year strategic plan to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing and reduce Ghana's reliance on imported medicines, with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in essential drug production and positioning Ghana as a regional supply hub. The plan aims to address Ghana's current dependence on imports for approximately 70 percent of medicines used in the country.

    17 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Ghana's maternal mortality remains high despite recent progress

    Ghana has reduced its maternal mortality ratio from 943 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 234 in 2023, but this remains above the WHO benchmark of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. President Mahama has made reducing maternal mortality a national priority through the Ministry of Health.

    17 August 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Ghana plans to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce imports

    President Mahama announced plans to expand Ghana's pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity with a five-year government plan aimed at reducing dependence on imported medicines, which currently account for about 70 per cent of medicines used in Ghana. The expansion is intended to reduce medicine costs, strengthen the provision of treatment under the Free Primary Health Care programme, and create export opportunities to neighbouring countries.

    17 August 2026 · Joy Online

Kwabena Mintah Akandoh — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute