- Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, organised an unexpected inspection trip of the Achimota and Ga North Municipal Hospitals
- Some patients did not hold back when they expressed their grievances to him directly in a trending video
- Some social media users have praised the Health Minister for working effortlessly to ensure Ghanaians have access to quality healthcare
During an unannounced inspection tour of Achimota and Ga North Municipal Hospitals on Friday, August 1, 2025, patients expressed their concerns directly to the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
These unannounced visits are part of the minister’s initiative to evaluate healthcare delivery systems across Ghana and to pinpoint critical gaps in service quality.
Source: Instagram
At Achimota Hospital, patients were vocal about their dissatisfaction with the services they received.
Many reported long wait times and high out-of-pocket expenses for care, which they felt were prohibitively expensive. One frustrated woman in the pharmacy said,
“I have been waiting for what feels like hours just to get my name called and receive my prescription. The nurses are kind, but the delays are unbearable.”
Another patient voiced concern over affordability, stating,
“I’m paying for my treatment out-of-pocket, and it’s costing me a fortune. I really hope the hospital can enhance its services and that the government can work on making healthcare more affordable for everyone.”
The Health minister took time to inspect several critical departments within the hospital, including the maternity wards, female ward, VIP ward, consulting unit, and pharmacy.
A disconcerting issue arose when he visited Room 7 of the Medical Outpatient Department (OPD), which was completely unmanned during his inspection.
Hospital management explained that of the seven assigned staff members, three were on leave and one was ill, contributing to significant service delays that patients were forced to endure.
Source: Getty Images
Health minister visits Ga North Municipal Hospital
At Ga North Municipal Hospital, patients echoed similar frustrations, and many stated systemic issues affecting care delivery.
One patient shared their distress, stating,
“I’ve been referred to another hospital for an operation because they don’t have the necessary equipment or anaesthesia here. It’s incredibly inconvenient and causing needless delays in my treatment.”
Hospital staff also highlighted major challenges, such as a broken anaesthesia machine, a lack of diagnostic tools essential for proper patient assessment, and frequent network failures that hinder the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) processes.
These persistent problems often forced patients to make unexpected co-payments or denied them timely access to necessary care, further complicating their treatment journey.
Minister Akandoh acknowledged the “glaring deficiencies” in both staffing levels and available equipment in these facilities.
He admitted that while many healthcare professionals are dedicated and passionate about their work, the obstacles they encounter often prevent them from delivering the quality of care that patients deserve.
“We need to enhance supervision, ensure proper staffing levels, and urgently upgrade critical medical equipment. We are committed to resetting our healthcare system to improve patient outcomes and restore public confidence in our medical services,” he added.
The minister assured the public that insights gathered from this visit would lead to immediate policy actions addressing staffing protocols, infrastructure investments, and operational efficiencies within the NHIS.
The Instagram video is below:
Nurses to be trained as doctors
In a related development, Health Minister Akandoh disclosed that six regions in Ghana currently lack regional hospitals, a situation that his government is tackling urgently to improve healthcare access in underserved areas.
In the viral interview with Rainbow Radio, he outlined a significant policy shift in medical education.
The government will introduce an innovative initiative that allows experienced physician assistants and nurses, who have accumulated several years of practical experience, to pursue pathways into medical education, ultimately leading them to qualify as doctors.
This move is aimed at bolstering the healthcare workforce in the country and addressing the pressing demand for qualified medical professionals.
The X video is below:
The health minister talks to unemployed nurses
YEN.com.gh previously reported on Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Health Minister, who has stated the government’s plans for the unemployed nurses in the country.
In an interview, he stated that talks on the possible foreign deployment of Ghanaian nurses are still ongoing with certain countries.
In the comments area of the video, a few social media users reacted to the Minister’s admission.
Source: YEN.com.gh
