Ghana's government will invest more than GHS 500 million to purchase over 24,000 pieces of medical equipment. These purchases will support the new Free Primary Healthcare programme, led by the Ministry of Health and in partnership with the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and other development partners. The equipment will go to frontline healthcare facilities across the country.
This new investment aims to strengthen healthcare delivery, especially in underserved communities. It will improve the quality of care and speed up the Free Primary Healthcare programme. The programme shifts Ghana’s health system towards disease prevention, early detection, and community-based care. It was launched by President John Mahama in April 2026.
This initiative fits into Ghana’s broader economic strategy to improve public health outcomes and productivity. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh stated that success depends on infrastructure, equipment, and healthcare worker investments. The government’s increased focus on primary care is a key structural adjustment in public service provision. This aims to reduce the burden of severe illnesses on the national health system. Currently CHAG provides between 30% and 40% of healthcare services despite accounting for only 7% of health infrastructure.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the government is providing resources for implementation. He confirmed the GHS 500 million investment for medical equipment. This equipment will go to health centres, CHPS compounds, and other facilities, including those operated by CHAG. CHAG is a designated implementing agency for the programme. Dr. Peter Kwame Yeboah, CHAG's Executive Director, confirmed the association’s commitment.
The government plans to complete and activate 35 unfinished health facilities. It also seeks partnerships with faith-based organizations to manage other facilities. This shows a commitment to expanding healthcare access and achieving universal health coverage. The improvement in doctors accepting postings to deprived areas, from 12 in 2024 to over 100 this year, indicates positive staffing trends. This will help address the challenge of equitable distribution of healthcare professionals. International partners like PharmAccess Ghana also support quality improvements through programmes like SafeCare. This could lead to Ghana's first Level Five SafeCare accredited facility, indicating significant quality advancements.