The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea has called for stronger collaboration between the Service and journalists to promote effective healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Professor Kaba says journalists play a critical role in educating the public on health issues, and closer collaboration between the media and the Ghana Health Service will help improve the country’s health outcomes.
The Director-General made the call during a virtual engagement with journalists, health professionals and other key stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Community Scorecard Project in Ghana.
Professor Samuel Kaba said the Ghana Health Service does not see journalists as opponents but as partners in improving the healthcare system.
“We don’t want the system to be GHS versus journalists, but rather journalists versus GHS.”
He explained that journalists, like every other citizen, use health facilities and therefore have a shared interest in ensuring that the healthcare system works effectively for all.
Professor Kaba assured stakeholders of the Ghana Health Service’s commitment to working with the media, communities and other partners in implementing the Community Scorecard and the Primary Healthcare Policy.
The engagement, organized by the African Media and Malaria Research Network, AMMREN, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, highlighted the Community Scorecard approach and reviewed activities implemented since 2024.
It also provided an opportunity for GHS service and stakeholders to share expectations and discuss ways of strengthening accountability and responsiveness in healthcare delivery.
Senior Programme Officer at the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), Diego Duque, commended the Ghana Health Service for what he described as efforts to revolutionize the Community Scorecard approach and integrate it into healthcare delivery.
He said the integration of the Community Scorecard into the health system could strengthen community participation, accountability and the quality of healthcare services.
