Author: Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Minority caucus on the Gender, Children and Social Welfare Committee of Parliament expresses profound sorrow and dismay at the recent killing of a woman and her four children by unknown gunmen in Benguri, a suburb in the Binduri District in the Upper East Region.

This tragic incident, reportedly linked to the protracted Bawku conflict underscores the devastating spillover effects of the violence on surrounding communities.

In a statement the Caucus extends its condolences to the bereaved family and the affected community and stands in solidarity with all those who continue to suffer the consequences of the protracted Bawku conflict and its spillover into surrounding communities.

The Minority unequivocally condemns this heinous act, which constitutes not only a gross violation of the rights to life, safety, and dignity, but also a direct assault on women and children—the most vulnerable members of our society. The intentional targeting and murder of a mother and her children reflect a deepening crisis of insecurity and a grave breakdown of law and order in parts of the Upper East Region.

Most disturbing is the continued failure of the Government to exercise its constitutional mandate to protect lives and maintain peace in these conflict-prone areas. This attack is not an isolated occurrence; it is the latest in a disturbing pattern of unchecked violence that has gone unaddressed by the Government.

The Government’s persistent inaction and the absence of comprehensive and gender-responsive security response strategy constitute a serious infraction of its obligations to safeguard the rights of vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.

Also this failure flies in the face of Ghana’s commitments under international frameworks such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (GHANAP II).

Minority Caucus notes with concern that, despite ample evidence of the deteriorating security situation in Bawku and its environs, the Government has failed to intervene decisively to de-escalate the conflict, provide adequate protection to civilians, particularly women and children, and initiate targeted support mechanisms for victims and displaced families.

Hence the Minority Caucus on the Gender, Children and Social Welfare Committee, therefore demand:
(i) The deployment of specialized protection units trained in civilian and child protection, particularly in conflict-prone areas.

(ii) The establishment of a humanitarian relief framework to support women and children affected by the ongoing violence.

And is the duty of the Government to act not with platitudes, but with urgency, intentionality, and sustained commitment to safeguarding human lives. The lives lost in Binduri are a painful reminder of what happens when leadership fails in its most basic responsibility of protecting its people.

Ghanamps.com

Members of the Select Committee on health are impressed with the management of the Eastern Regional Hospital for being able to raise funds to manage the facility without putting the burden on government.

On a nationwide tour to regional hospitals, the Committee was told at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua, that they were able to invest their internally generated funds to set up a dialysis center to render services to patients for free.

Dr Thomas Anaba, MP for Garu, the leader of Group 3 and Hon. Akwasi Acquah, MP for Akyem Oda, commended the management of the hospital and assured them of recommending to parliament for the necessary support.

A member of the Committee Alexander Akwasi Aquah on his part noted that the hospitals in the Eastern Region are doing their best to look after the sick patients and the little they are able to generate internally the use it well.

Again they have invested in research and the things they need like ambulance, as such they have taken good note of that and would ensure it is addressed.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Holy Family Catholic Hospital in Techiman has been lauded as a vital national healthcare asset during a visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, which formed part of a nationwide oversight tour of health facilities.

The visit brought together high-profile health sector leaders, including Hon. Dr. Sebastian Sandaare and Dr. Peter Yeboah, Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), who emphasized the need for equitable resource distribution, stronger partnerships, and urgent infrastructure support.

During the tour, Dr. Sandaare commended the hospital’s professionalism, cleanliness, and the dedication of its staff.
“We were impressed with what we observed—the staff are cheerful, hardworking, and committed to serving the people,” he noted.

However, he also expressed concern about the facility’s critical challenges, including limited space, human resource shortages, and the need for essential medical equipment such as MRI machines, patient monitors, and mammograms.

“We believe that with the kind of services they render—almost like a teaching hospital—they deserve more support. This hospital is a referral center for the Upper West, Upper East, Northern Region, and beyond. It is central to regional healthcare delivery,” Dr. Sandaare said.

Holy Family Hospital is a national asset Dr. Peter Yeboah echoed these sentiments, declaring the Holy Family Hospital a “national asset” and highlighting its strategic location at Ghana’s geographical crossroads.

“You can’t go to Upper West or Upper East without passing through Techiman. This hospital provides a public good and must be treated as such,” he remarked.

He shared a revealing anecdote about a former Health Minister who, after receiving anonymous care at the hospital, pledged to support its transformation into a teaching facility due to the outstanding treatment he received.

Both leaders stressed the importance of a unified, inclusive approach to health sector reform.

Dr. Yeboah called for “equity and synergy,” noting that competition and duplication in the healthcare system must give way to collaboration and shared responsibility.

He said, “Health defies boundaries must move from silos to synergies—cooperation, not conflict; partnership beyond politics.”

On the policy front, Dr. Yeboah advocated for prompt reimbursement of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims and the establishment of a fair economic tariff structure for health service providers.

“Delayed payments and illegal charges reflect deeper systemic gaps. Prompt reimbursements are essential to keeping facilities like this operational,” he said.

He also reminded the committee of CHAG’s longstanding role in NHIS development, including piloting the capitation scheme and supporting reforms aimed at making the system more efficient and accountable.

Addressing the rise in Road Traffic Emergencies (RTEs), Dr. Sandaare warned that accidents are quickly becoming a leading cause of hospital admissions and fatalities. He called for increased public education on road safety and for hospitals to be equipped with advanced diagnostic tools.

“Education is the first step, but after accidents occur, hospitals must be ready to diagnose and treat victims immediately,” he said.

Both Dr. Sandaare and Dr. Yeboah expressed hope that renewed leadership and commitment—particularly recalling former President John Mahama’s 2014 intervention in healthcare infrastructure—would pave the way for a new era of investment in facilities like the Holy Family Hospital.

Concluding the visit, Dr. Yeboah thanked Members of Parliament for their advocacy and described CHAG as a committed partner in achieving universal health coverage.

“This hospital—CHAG’s number one in output, impact, and innovation—will continue to partner with the government to strengthen our health system,” he affirmed.

Ghanamps.com

The Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Dr. Peter Yeboah, has called for greater inclusiveness, equity, and synergy in Ghana’s healthcare system.

Dr. Yeboah emphasized the importance of equitable resource distribution across the health sector.
“Health defies boundaries. We must move from silos to synergies, from identity-based services to collective, holistic service delivery,” he urged.

During a visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health to the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman on Thursday, April 24, the CHAG CEO urged collaboration and shared national responsibility, stressing the need for an integrated approach to healthcare planning and delivery.

The visit forms part of efforts by Parliament to gain firsthand insight into healthcare delivery across the country by directly engaging health professionals and assessing service challenges on the ground Competition and duplication, he said, has no place in quality healthcare delivery hence the need to provide equal resources to the CHAG hospitals.

He said, “We are for collaboration, not competition; cooperation, not conflict; partnership beyond politics,” he declared.

NHIS REIMBURSEMENT
Addressing systemic challenges in funding and financing of the Catholic hospitals, Dr. Yeboah lamented delays in National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) reimbursements and the need for an economic tariff structure for service providers.

According to him, prompt reimbursement of submitted claims and establishing fair economic tariff structure are essential, stating, “Illegal payments are symptoms of larger system gaps.”

He reminded the committee that CHAG pioneered the NHIS’s capitation pilot scheme and remains a vital partner in its national rollout.

“CHAG was included in the 2015 review to make NHIS more efficient, accountable, and sustainable. It’s a shared mission,” Dr. Yeboah said, referencing former President John Mahama’s reforms.

Dr. Yeboah emphasized one of CHAG’s facility, the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman and the pivotal role in serving surrounding regions including the Upper West, Upper East, and Northern Region and described it as a national asset.

“This is a referral center for several constituencies. That shows that this hospital is a national asset providing public good,” he added.

Dr. Yeboah praised the role of the Holy Family Hospital in providing accessible, quality healthcare across the middle and northern corridors of the country, saying it serves as a critical point of care for patients traveling between multiple regions.

According to him, one cannot travel to Upper West or Upper East without passing through Techiman stressing that the hospital sits at a geographical crossroads and noting its suitability to evolve into a teaching hospital.

He recounted an incident in which a former Health Minister received treatment at the hospital without being recognized and later expressing intent to make it a teaching hospital due to the exceptional care he received.

Dr. Yeboah thanked the members of Parliament for their advocacy, describing them as “passionate and ardent supporters of CHAG.”

“Be assured that this hospital—CHAG’s number one in terms of output, impact, and innovation—will continue to partner with government to achieve universal health coverage,” he affirmed.

The visit solidified CHAG’s commitment to national health development and showcased the Holy Family Hospital as a beacon of healthcare excellence.

Ghanamps.com

Members of the health committee of parliament’s Team 3, led by Dr. Thomas Anaba, MP for Garu, has commended management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Kumasi Regional Hospital in Atonso Agogo for managing the hospitals well.

They were impressed with how their internal funds were generated to manage the facility.

Speaking to the media, Dr. Thomas Anaba said the committee is impressed with the way the hospital is being handled and the kind of plans they laid down for the future.

He assured that the committee would recommend to parliament the necessary support for the facilities.

Meanwhile, a member of the Committee, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, indicated that, as the oversight institution, there’s the need for them to follow to make sure funds allocated to the various hospitals are being put to proper use.

He further commended the two hospitals visited for keeping the facilities clean.

The Parliamentary Health Committee Team 3, is on Regional Monitoring tour of health facilities in Ashanti Region, Eastern Region, Volta Region and the Greater Accra Region.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Bishop of Damongo, Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier, has made a heartfelt appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to support the renovation of the maternity ward at the St. Anne Catholic Hospital, where he (President Mahama) was born.

He described the current state of the maternity ward as dire and deeply concerning stating, “You will be very sad If you see the maternity ward.”

The appeal was made during a visit by Members of Parliament on the Select Committee on Health to the hospital as part of a working tour of health facilities in the Savannah Region.

Bishop Angkyier stated, “President Mahama was born in this hospital, for those who are not aware. But if you go and see the maternity where the children and the mothers are, you will be very sad. Some have to lie on the floor.”

He emphasized the importance of completing a stalled maternity complex project that the Diocese has been trying to execute for years.

“We have tried as a diocese over the years. It has not worked out. We are still searching. But since you have come and since we are working together, I want to bring it out,” he appealed to the MPs.

The Bishop stressed that improving the maternity facilities is not only about comfort but is essential to raising the hospital’s quality rating.

“If we want to get to the level five, and even to a higher level in terms of quality health delivery, we will need some critical staff for that. But infrastructure plays a big part too,” he added.

According to him, the maternity ward at St. Anne’s has long served residents from across the Savannah Region and even neighboring countries, but resource constraints have left it overcrowded and poorly equipped.

The Bishop is hopeful that President Mahama would consider the appeal favorably with his connection to the hospital.
“It’s a huge project, this maternity complex, and we would be grateful for any support, especially from someone who has roots in this very place,” he said.

The Bishop’s appeal was met with sympathy from members of the health committee, who promised to elevate the issue to appropriate channels for attention and action.

The team also noted that the old abandoned maternity block where the President was born could be renovated as a form of tourist attraction to inspire the pregnant women that their children could also grow up to become important personalities regardless of where they were born.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament for Daffiama-Bussie-Issa and Vice Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Dr. Sebastian Sandaare, has commended the management and staff of St. Anne Hospital in Damongo for their outstanding healthcare delivery.

Speaking during a tour of the facility on Wednesday, April 23, Dr. Sandaare praised the high-quality service provided to residents of the Savannah Region.

He lauded the hospital’s sanitation efforts, patient care, management practices, and cleanliness. Despite the praise, Dr. Sandaare acknowledged several challenges affecting the hospital’s operations. These include persistent water shortages, unreliable power supply due to an overstretched transformer, and staffing constraints.

He also acknowledged the facility’s infrastructure and resource limitations. “We are impressed with what we have seen generally because we are on the field to observe how our people are treated when they visit health facilities. “We’ve gathered enough issues. We’ll compile our report, take it back to Parliament, present it, and advocate for solutions to the problems you are confronted with,” he said.

The Health Committee of Parliament is currently touring health facilities nationwide, divided into three teams covering the northern, middle, and southern belts. Dr. Sandaare leads the middle belt team, which includes Hon. Emmanuel Kwaku Boam, MP for Pru-East, Prof. Titus Beyuo, MP for Lambussie, and Parliamentary staff.

Dr. Sandaare emphasized the need for equitable resource distribution between government and CHAG (Christian Health Association of Ghana) facilities.

He expressed confidence in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, to address disparities in healthcare. “John Dramani Mahama is one president that believes in equity. He does not discriminate.

When it comes to healthcare delivery, he believes resources should be distributed equitably,” he said. Addressing the unfulfilled promise of a regional hospital for the Savannah Region made in 2019, Dr. Sandaare criticized the previous government’s inaction and lamented the failed Agenda 111 projects.

He stressed that MPs do not decide on hospital locations but will advocate for improvement of existing facilities. “People should not put the burden of Agenda 111 on John Mahama. The people who promised and failed are the NPP government under Nana Akufo-Addo.

But the NDC government will do everything possible to ensure Ghanaians have quality healthcare,” he added. He expressed optimism that a future NDC administration would prioritize the healthcare needs of the Savannah Region: “There is hope in the new government,” he stated.

The Bishop of Damongo, Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier, during a courtesy call on his office, made a passionate appeal to the government and Members of Parliament to deepen collaboration with faith-based health facilities, especially in underserved areas like the Savannah Region.

He stressed the importance of equitable collaboration between the state and church-run facilities under the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and recounted a missed opportunity when an oxygen plant meant for the hospital was redirected elsewhere, despite the St Anne Hospital’s urgent need. “Sometimes we have to struggle as CHAG facilities to get resources which are meant for all Ghanaians. Yet, we are all serving the same people,” he said and appealing to the committee for more advocacy and equity in resource distribution. Dr. Nelson Agboadoh, a medical doctor at the hospital, presented an overview of the hospital’s operations and underscored a pressing issue: the lack of staff accommodation. He noted that while a structure had been converted into a doctor’s residence, dedicated living quarters are urgently needed to attract and retain specialist doctors.

Aiden Ngmenbon, the Diocesan Director for Health at St. Anne, also expressed frustration over delays in financial clearance for health staff. He noted that the facility continues to lose critical staff to other institutions with more efficient clearance processes.

He appealed to the Committee for assistance in expediting financial clearance for St. Anne Hospital’s personnel.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com