The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has called on health service administrators to strengthen leadership, improve facility management and uphold good corporate governance to support the successful implementation of Free Primary Healthcare and other government health initiatives.
The call was made at the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Tamale, held under the theme: “Building Resilient Free Primary Healthcare Systems for Universal Health Coverage: The Leadership Role of Health Service Administrators.”
Addressing participants at the meeting, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea underscored the importance of merit-based appointments, performance and accountability in the management of health facilities.
He assured members that the Ghana Health Service would ensure that appointments were guided by the requirements outlined in advertised vacancies, with performance serving as an important consideration.
Dr. Akoriyea urged health service administrators to pay greater attention to the maintenance, cleanliness and overall appearance of their facilities, making them attractive, welcoming and responsive to the needs of clients.
He encouraged administrators to remain committed to their professional responsibilities and ensure that all components of facility management worked together effectively to improve service delivery.
The Director-General also highlighted the importance of strengthening security across health facilities, reminding administrators of the need to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to enhance security and protect public assets.
He expressed concern about gaps in the maintenance of vehicles, motorbikes and biomedical equipment, stressing that the inability to maintain essential operational assets could undermine the effective functioning of health facilities.
“If the transport unit cannot maintain our cars and motorbikes, and our biomedical engineers cannot maintain the equipment, then there is an issue that needs to be fixed,” he stressed.
He called for a coordinated and accountable approach to maintenance, noting that the effective management of resources was essential to ensuring the continuous operation of health facilities and the delivery of quality care.
Dr. Akoriyea also highlighted the importance of the Free Primary Healthcare initiative and the critical role health service administrators must play in ensuring its successful implementation.
He urged administrators to take ownership of the initiative by strengthening operational systems, managing resources responsibly and ensuring that facilities were adequately prepared to deliver the intended services.
He encouraged them to regularly assess their work, identify gaps and take practical steps to improve the quality of services provided to the public.
“Let us evaluate ourselves and examine what we do. Let us develop our facilities ourselves so that we can appreciate the services they provide and feel confident receiving care there,” he urged.
For his part, the President of AHSAG, Rev. Ezekiel Amadu Daribi commended the government for its health initiatives, particularly Free Primary Healthcare and the Mahama Cares programme, emphasising the importance of effective administration in translating such policies into improved healthcare delivery.
He noted that operational challenges within health facilities require strong administrative leadership and urged administrators to remain steadfast in their mission to provide quality healthcare services.
Rev. Daribi also called on the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Ghana Health Service and the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) to prioritise the recruitment of qualified health service administrators to manage healthcare facilities effectively.
“This year’s theme reminds us of a fundamental truth: good healthcare requires good administration and good corporate governance,” he noted.
He stressed that behind every functioning hospital is a system responsible for planning, procurement, accounting, maintenance, coordination and service delivery. Similarly, he observed that the success of every health policy depends on the people who translate policy commitments into practical results.
The AHSAG President urged health service administrators to recognise their critical role in building resilient healthcare systems capable of responding to the needs of the population and advancing Universal Health Coverage.
He emphasised that effective administration and strong governance structures were essential to ensuring that healthcare policies achieved their intended objectives and that facilities delivered quality services to the public.
The AGM brought together distinguished dignitaries, health sector leaders, professional associations, partners and health service administrators to deliberate on the leadership role of administrators in strengthening healthcare delivery.
Among the dignitaries and participants present were the Sakpe Naa, Chairman of the Occasion; Dr. Chrysantus Kubio, Northern Regional Director of Health Service; and Dr. Abdulai Tinorga, Guest Speaker.
Others included Dr. Kwasi Addai-Donkoh, Chairman of the National Council of AHSAG; distinguished representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG); past presidents and senior members of AHSAG; representatives of professional associations and unions; partners, sponsors and invited guests; as well as health service and hospital administrators from across the sector.
The meeting provided a platform for participants to reflect on the challenges and opportunities in health administration and explore practical approaches to improving facility management, accountability and service delivery.
The AGM reaffirmed the importance of effective leadership, professional competence, good corporate governance and responsible resource management in building resilient healthcare systems that deliver accessible, quality and sustainable services to all Ghanaians.
As Ghana advances its Free Primary Healthcare agenda and pursues Universal Health Coverage, health service administrators remain central to translating policy commitments into efficient facility operations and improved patient experiences.