Health Minister Mintah Akandoh has described the 2026 budget as the “most people-focused and health-centred budget I have seen in recent years,” highlighting its strong emphasis on the health sector as a driver of national productivity.
Speaking during Government Accountability Series on Monday, December 01, the Minister said the budget aligns with the government’s broader developmental agenda. He stressed that a productive nation requires a healthy population:
“It is well known that the health of the people in every nation is the wealth of the nation. So you cannot have a prosperous nation without a very strong health sector.”
Minister Akandoh explained that investments in healthcare are not just expenditures but strategic economic moves:
“Across the globe, every dollar you invest in the health sector, you are likely to get two or three-fourths of economic returns. And therefore, we all know that the health sector is critical and we see the expenditure not as a cost but as an investment.”
He outlined allocations for the sector, noting that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will receive 11 billion Ghana cedis, while the overall health budget for 2026 represents a 9.4% increase compared to previous years.
The Minister said this reflects the government’s commitment to universal healthcare, with an emphasis on both coverage and efficiency.
Highlighting the importance of prompt funding, Akandoh said, “Gone were the days where you hear service providers shouting on top of their voices… because they were not receiving payment. And this is no more the case as I speak to you now.”
He also reaffirmed the government’s plans to expand coverage, strengthen primary healthcare, and ensure that resources are deployed to the areas that need them most.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
