Stakeholders at the 2026 Annual Health Summit have raised concerns that persistent shortages of health professionals, uneven workforce distribution and funding challenges could slow Ghana’s progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The concerns were highlighted during the opening of the three-day summit in Accra, where religious leaders, lawmakers and development partners called for urgent investments in workforce development, sustainable health financing and stronger governance systems.
Speaking at the event, General Superintendent of Assemblies of God Ghana, Rev. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, stressed that access to quality healthcare for all Ghanaians would remain difficult unless government addressed the shortage and unequal distribution of health workers across the country.
He noted that some communities continue to face severe staffing challenges, with a single doctor serving more than 25,000 people in certain areas.
“This undermines equitable access to health services and calls for deliberate policies and incentives to ensure a more balanced distribution of the workforce,” he said.
Rev. Wengam acknowledged Ghana’s progress in expanding healthcare access through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), particularly following the decision to uncap the National Health Insurance Fund. However, he maintained that sustainable financing and a motivated health workforce remain essential to achieving universal coverage.
Chairman of Parliament’s Select Committee on Health, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, also underscored the importance of improving the welfare and remuneration of health professionals to boost retention and performance.
“The financial welfare of health professionals must be top-notch,” he stated, adding that Parliament was prepared to support reforms aimed at improving workforce deployment, career progression and professional development.
Development partners echoed similar concerns, warning that Ghana must prepare for a future with reduced external funding support for key health programmes.
Representing the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Dominic Farrell said the country was entering a critical phase in its transition toward greater domestic financing of the health sector.
He cautioned that declining donor support for vaccines and essential health commodities makes long-term financing strategies increasingly important.
Farrell also expressed concern about recent increases in institutional maternal mortality rates and called for stronger interventions through the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Emergency Response.
Participants further advocated increased investment in rural retention incentives, specialist training and workforce recruitment to address staffing shortages and improve healthcare delivery across underserved communities.
The summit brought together policymakers, development partners, health professional associations, academics and civil society organisations to review the sector’s performance and identify solutions to emerging challenges.
Stakeholders concluded that stronger collaboration, sustained investment and effective workforce planning will be critical if Ghana is to achieve Universal Health Coverage and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare nationwide.
