Gov't to construct three new regional hospitals in 2026 in Oti, Savannah and Western North Regions 

Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, has announced that the government will commence the construction of three new regional hospitals in the Savannah, Oti, and Western North regions in 2026, to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.

Speaking during Tuesday's debate on the 2026 Budget in Parliament, Mr Akandoh, also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Juaboso, said the initiative formed part of a broader plan to ensure that every region without a regional hospital would have one.

The Minister further insisted that the government had paid GHS 7.5 billion into the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to guarantee the timely settlement of claims to service providers, thereby sustaining the operations of the health insurance scheme.

However, the debate also highlighted sharp disagreements over the state of healthcare financing.

Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore and Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Health Committee, alleged that three distribution centres operated by Zipline, the medical drone delivery service, were set to shut down its operations beginning today, November 25, 2025.

Dr Afriye said the centres located at Sefwi Wiawso (Western North Region), Krachi (Volta Region), and Anum (Eastern Region) had been crippled by government's indebtedness, with arrears amounting to GHS 175 million.

He warned that the suspension of services would severely affect remote communities that relied on drone deliveries for blood products and essential medicines.

Dr Afriye also disputed the Health Minister's claim on NHIF disbursements, asserting that only GHS 4.5 billion had been released and not the GHS 7.5 billion announced.

The contrasting claims underscored growing concerns about the sustainability of critical health services.

With Zipline's suspension looming, many communities feared disruptions in emergency medical supplies, raising questions about the government's ability to balance ambitious infrastructure projects with the immediate funding needs of existing health services.

GNA