The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is calling on journalists to collaborate with health authorities to improve the implementation of free primary healthcare in the country. Director-General of GHS, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, made the call during an AMMREN webinar on September 30, 2026. He emphasized the importance of a strong partnership between journalists and health authorities to identify challenges and find practical solutions to improve healthcare services at the community level.
Dr. Akoriyea encouraged journalists to see themselves as partners in the health system, rather than outsiders, and to provide valuable feedback on how health policies and services are being experienced by the public. He noted that journalists' close interaction with communities places them in a unique position to provide feedback on healthcare services. This, he believes, can help health authorities assess the effectiveness of free primary healthcare and identify areas for improvement.
The GHS Director-General disclosed that the Ghana Health Service would hold a dedicated engagement with journalists to examine the implementation of free primary healthcare and discuss ways to make the program more effective. He emphasized that the engagement aims to foster a relationship built around cooperation and improving healthcare delivery. Dr. Akoriyea also encouraged journalists to participate in GHS activities, raise questions, and share concerns and ideas that can contribute to strengthening health services.
According to Dr. Akoriyea, journalists are themselves users of the health system, whether seeking healthcare, visiting relatives at health facilities, or reporting on issues within the sector. Health workers, he added, also depend on the same system for healthcare, making its improvement a shared responsibility. He urged journalists to draw the attention of the GHS to any challenges they encounter within the health system through the appropriate channels.
Dr. Akoriyea also raised concerns about health misinformation, particularly with the growth of artificial intelligence, digital media, and social media platforms. He emphasized the need for accurate health information to be provided to the public. The GHS Director-General thanked journalists and other stakeholders participating in the engagement and called for continued cooperation between the media and the Ghana Health Service to improve healthcare delivery.
The engagement between journalists and the GHS aims to leverage the unique relationship between journalists and communities to improve healthcare services. By working together, journalists and health authorities can identify challenges and find practical solutions to improve the implementation of free primary healthcare. This collaboration is expected to contribute to strengthening health services and improving healthcare delivery in Ghana.
The Ghana Health Service's call for collaboration with journalists comes as the country implements free primary healthcare. The program presents an opportunity for the media and health authorities to work together to identify challenges and find practical ways of improving the program. Key to this collaboration is the role of journalists in providing community feedback and raising awareness about health issues.
Key points
- The Ghana Health Service is seeking collaboration with journalists to identify challenges in implementing free primary healthcare.
- Journalists are encouraged to provide valuable feedback on how health policies and services are being experienced by the public.
- The collaboration aims to improve healthcare delivery and strengthen health services in Ghana.
