The Government is considering the renovation of the War Memorial Hospital in Navrongo, a key referral facility in the Upper East Region that has reportedly not undergone any major refurbishment since its establishment in 1951.
The Minister for Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, gave the indication after inspecting the facility during a visit to the Navrongo Traditional Area to assess the implementation of the government’s Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) programme.
The Minister toured various sections of the hospital, including the mortuary, where he observed cracks and other signs of deterioration in parts of the facility.
The inspection followed an appeal by the Paramount Chief of the Navrongo Traditional Area, the Navro-Pio, Pe Denis Aneakwoa Balinia Adda Asagpaare II, for government to refurbish the hospital.
The Paramount Chief said the facility, formerly known as Saint Mary Catholic Hospital, was established in 1951 before its management was taken over by the government in 1961.
He said the absence of major renovation works over the decades had left the facility in a condition that did not befit its status as a referral hospital serving communities in the area.
Mr Akandoh said government would consider the request for renovation after seeing the condition of the facility firsthand.
The inspection formed part of the Minister’s engagement with traditional authorities and health stakeholders during his assessment of the FPHC programme in the traditional area.
Pe Asagpaare II also called on Ghanaians to support the Free Primary Health Care initiative, describing it as a positive intervention that should not be subjected to partisan politics.
“I encourage Ghanaians not to politicize this good initiative as was done to the National Health Insurance Scheme,” he said.
The Minister, who was accompanied by officials of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), also urged the public to embrace the programme, saying it formed part of government’s broader efforts to improve access to healthcare and advance Universal Health Coverage.
Launched in April 2026, the FPHC programme seeks to shift healthcare delivery from an over-reliance on hospitals towards prevention, early detection and health promotion at the community level.
All 15 municipalities and districts in the Upper East Region are benefiting from the programme.
It provides free services including immunisation, antenatal and postnatal care, treatment for common illnesses such as malaria and respiratory infections, as well as screening for hypertension, diabetes, obesity and selected cancers.
Family planning, mental health support and health education are also included.
Under the programme, health posts and kiosks are expected to be established at busy markets, lorry stations and underserved communities to bring basic healthcare closer to residents.
Community Health Nurses will also undertake routine household visits to check vital indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and Body Mass Index, particularly among older people.
People with abnormal readings will be referred to health facilities for further assessment and management.
The GHS is also expected to provide health workers, particularly Community Health Nurses, with identification cards at no cost to help residents distinguish genuine health personnel from impostors during community and household visits.
