The Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) has called on health service administrators across the country to strengthen primary healthcare delivery through effective leadership, efficient resource management, professional discipline and innovative approaches to service delivery. The Acting Chief Director of the NRCC, Mr. Sumaila Ewuntomah Abudu, made the call on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, when he delivered an address on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John, at the 49th Annual Conference and Continuing Professional Education Programme of the Association of Health Service Administrators, Ghana (AHSAG), held at the Modern City Hotel in Tamale.
The conference, which brought together key stakeholders in Ghana’s health sector, was held under the theme: βBuilding Resilient Free Primary Healthcare Systems for Universal Health Coverage: The Leadership Role of Health Service Administrators.β
In his address, Mr. Abudu welcomed participants to the Northern Region and expressed appreciation to the National Executive Committee of AHSAG for selecting the region to host the conference. He noted that the decision demonstrated the region’s importance to Ghana’s national development agenda and provided an opportunity for stakeholders to explore practical strategies for strengthening healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary level. He also commended health service administrators for their invaluable contributions to creating an enabling environment for effective healthcare delivery across the country.
He described the conference theme as timely and consistent with Ghana’s objective of building a healthcare system that is accessible, affordable, equitable and responsive to the needs of all citizens, irrespective of their geographical location or socioeconomic circumstances. He emphasised that healthcare remained a fundamental pillar of national development, as a healthy population was essential for improved productivity, economic growth, poverty reduction and the overall well-being of citizens.
The Acting Chief Director stressed that although the government provided policy direction and financing frameworks for primary healthcare, administrators played a critical role in translating policies, plans and programmes into practical results. He explained that their responsibilities included ensuring the efficient allocation and management of limited resources, maintaining staff discipline, promoting professional ethics and improving the operational effectiveness of healthcare institutions. He cautioned that without competent and committed administrators, even well-designed government policies could remain unimplemented, limiting their intended benefits to the population.
Addressing Ghana’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Mr. Abudu cited figures presented by the Minister of Health during a recent Government Accountability Series, indicating that the country’s UHC coverage stood at 56 per cent, against a national target of 80 per cent by 2030. He observed that the 24-percentage-point gap highlighted the urgency of addressing persistent challenges confronting healthcare facilities. He therefore called for coordinated action among government, health professionals, administrators and other stakeholders to eliminate bottlenecks, strengthen institutional capacity and improve access to essential healthcare services.
Mr. Abudu further described primary healthcare as the foundation of an effective, equitable and resilient health system, noting that it often served as the first point of contact between individuals, families and formal healthcare institutions. He explained that it played a critical role in disease prevention, health promotion, early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. He consequently called for deliberate efforts to ensure adequate funding for primary healthcare facilities, alongside a strong commitment to professionalism, discipline and ethical conduct among healthcare providers and administrators.
He maintained that strengthening primary healthcare would help reduce the cost of accessing medical services, improve health outcomes and narrow existing disparities in healthcare access between rural and urban communities. He added that a resilient primary healthcare system would contribute to national development by promoting the health and productivity of citizens while reducing pressure on higher-level health facilities.
On discipline and professionalism, the Acting Chief Director emphasised that the effective functioning of healthcare institutions depended not only on infrastructure, equipment and funding but also on the conduct, commitment and competence of the personnel responsible for managing and delivering services. He urged health professionals and administrators to eschew negative behaviours and unprofessional practices capable of undermining service quality and eroding public confidence in the health system.
He challenged administrators to lead by example by upholding high ethical standards, promoting responsible conduct and ensuring strict adherence to institutional rules and professional obligations. He noted that effective leadership was essential to fostering institutional cultures characterised by fairness, consistency, accountability and sound management, while ensuring that patients’ needs and welfare remained central to healthcare delivery.
Mr. Abudu indicated that the conference theme aligned with the Government of Ghana’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery, expanding access to essential services and advancing Universal Health Coverage. He noted that improving access to quality healthcare remained indispensable to national development, adding that strengthening primary healthcare, improving service delivery and ensuring that public resources generated tangible benefits for ordinary Ghanaians remained important national priorities.
However, he cautioned that the successful implementation of these priorities depended significantly on the quality of administration at every level of the health system, from national and regional institutions to district health directorates and individual healthcare facilities. He therefore urged health service administrators to adopt innovative, efficient and results-oriented management practices to ensure that available resources were directed towards interventions that addressed the most pressing healthcare needs of the population.
As participants engaged in discussions on the future of primary healthcare in Ghana, the Acting Chief Director encouraged them to move beyond identifying challenges and focus on practical, innovative and sustainable solutions. He emphasised the importance of translating discussions and recommendations into actionable measures capable of improving institutional performance, enhancing healthcare quality and expanding access for underserved communities.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, underscored the importance of promoting staff welfare, inclusivity and fairness across all levels of the organisation. He stressed that every employee, irrespective of rank, position or professional status, deserves equal treatment, respect and consideration.
He further emphasised that an inclusive and equitable working environment is essential to strengthening staff morale, enhancing productivity and fostering a sense of belonging among personnel. He called for a workplace culture in which the welfare and concerns of all employees are given due attention, noting that the success of the Ghana Health Service depends significantly on the collective commitment, dedication and well-being of its workforce.