Ghana on course to achieve Universal Health Coverage — Health Minister

The Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has said Ghana is on course to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

He said the move is part of the rollout of the government's Free Primary Healthcare programme in 135 districts across all 16 regions.

The Free Primary Healthcare initiative was launched in April 2026 as a flagship government intervention aimed at strengthening primary healthcare and accelerating Ghana's progress towards UHC.

The programme is designed to shift healthcare delivery from a predominantly curative approach to one focused on prevention, early detection and community-based care.

“Free Primary Healthcare has come to stay. We are on course to achieve Universal Health Coverage,” Akandoh wrote in a social media post on Monday, September 7.

The programme provides free services including routine screening, maternal and child healthcare, basic curative services and community outreach.

The government initially targeted 150 underserved districts for the first phase, with the remaining 15 expected to be added by the end of 2026.

The broader goal is to extend free primary healthcare across the country by the end of 2027, according to the Minister.

Mr Akandoh said 4,574 health facilities are participating in the programme as of Monday.

These include CHPS compounds, health centres and polyclinics, with facilities operated by the Christian Health Association of Ghana and other partners also participating.

The rollout has also been supported with the distribution of 24,534 pieces of essential medical equipment, including incubators, oxygen concentrators, diagnostic equipment, delivery beds and ultrasound machines.

The government has also deployed more than 10,000 motorbikes and tricycles and 5,000 outreach kits to support health workers in taking services into communities, the Minister said.

“This is a major step towards H.E. President Mahama’s vision of moving Ghana from sick-care to comprehensive healthcare, with quality care brought closer to our people,” he said.