President John Mahama is set to officially launch Ghana’s Free Primary Healthcare Programme on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Ahead of the ceremony, Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, accompanied by presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, toured key facilities to inspect logistics for the landmark project.
The initiative is designed to ensure that every citizen, regardless of location, has access to quality healthcare.
The programme, estimated to cost GH¢1.2 billion annually, will begin in 150 underserved districts across the country. With 350 kiosks planned nationwide, the project is expected to transform Ghana’s health delivery system.
During the Minister’s visit to the Mega Warehouse in Tema, essential items for the health posts were displayed, including solar panels, burglar-proof fittings, tables, and chairs.
At Madina, construction of a new healthcare post is underway and expected to be completed soon.
“We are deploying not less than 350 of these posts, and we will situate them in highly populated areas like markets and lorry parks. Each facility will have access to water, solar power, toilets, a pharmacy shop, a waiting area, consulting rooms, and a detaining area,” Akandoh explained.
According to the Minister, the project’s concept is rooted in early detection and prevention.
“The idea of free primary healthcare is not just about affordability. It is a complete shift from sick care to healthcare, detecting diseases early and, where possible, preventing them before complications arise. This is an attempt to reset the health system, moving it away from being overly reliant on treatment to one focused on prevention and early detection,” he said.
Akandoh further revealed that 16,000 healthcare workers will be recruited this year to staff the new facilities.
“We know we have a backlog of health professionals, and government has a deliberate policy to ensure they are employed. This year, recruitment will go beyond nurses and midwives to include allied health professionals, pharmacists, and physician assistants. The free primary health concept will guide us in filling the gaps to make the programme successful,” he added.
The Free Primary Healthcare Programme is being hailed as a bold step toward universal health coverage in Ghana.
By Beatrice Sowah
