Health Minister Hosts WHO Delegation Ahead of African Health Workforce Investment Forum

Edited by: Solomon Kwabena Nana-Ansah – Paaps – 

Accra, Ghana — The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has welcomed a high-level delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO) ahead of the upcoming African Health Workforce Investment Forum scheduled to take place in Accra.

The delegation was led by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, who paid a courtesy call on the Minister as part of preparatory engagements for the forum.

Receiving the delegation, the Minister described the visit as both timely and strategic, reaffirming Ghana’s readiness to host the high-level gathering. He emphasised that beyond policy discussions, the forum must prioritise the implementation of actionable outcomes that will deliver measurable improvements in healthcare delivery across the continent.

Hon. Akandoh also outlined key reforms underway within Ghana’s health sector, including the rollout of the Free Primary Healthcare Initiative, ongoing expansion of health infrastructure, and targeted efforts to recruit and retain skilled health professionals.

Dr. Janabi, in his remarks, commended Ghana for its leadership in advancing health sector reforms and noted the increasing recognition of health workers as critical national assets. He, however, raised concerns over the persistent migration of African-trained health professionals, stressing the need for structured and mutually beneficial agreements between countries that train health workers and those that ultimately benefit from their expertise.

He further advocated for strengthened international partnerships, including financial and technical support from destination countries, to sustain training programmes and improve workforce retention across Africa.

The meeting also highlighted Ghana’s continued influence as a regional leader in healthcare innovation, with several African countries drawing lessons from its health workforce planning strategies and the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The African Health Workforce Investment Forum is expected to bring together policymakers, development partners, and health experts to explore sustainable solutions to workforce challenges and strengthen healthcare systems across the continent.