The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to move quickly to implement the Government’s Free Primary Health Care Programme so all Ghanaians can access essential services without financial barriers.

Speaking at the GHS’s 2026 First Senior Managers’ Meeting, he said the programme’s success will depend on effective implementation, robust supervision, high‑quality service delivery and improved patient experiences across health facilities.

The minister stressed the need to eliminate informal charges that undermine access to care, and to use data to guide decision‑making and strengthen accountability.

“Free Primary Health Care must be approached as an implementation programme, not as a slogan, I urge you managers to treat the rollout with “discipline, urgency and accountability," he stated.

Hon. Akandoh also called for intensified efforts to improve patient safety and to relieve pressure on hospitals by building a stronger, more responsive primary healthcare system that manages conditions early and reduces avoidable admissions.

He expressed confidence in the Ghana Health Service’s capacity to lead the nationwide implementation and to help achieve the Government’s goal of Universal Health Coverage.

The minister instructed managers to assess facility preparedness, plug service delivery gaps, eliminate informal fees, tighten supervision, improve referral pathways, to translate policy into practice and use health data to monitor progress and hold staff accountable.

He reiterated that these steps will ensure that primary care facilities deliver reliable, timely care and restore public confidence in the health system.

He further urged the GHS management team to return to their regions and districts with a clear implementation plan and measurable targets, and to report regularly on progress, as well as regional and district health managers to assess readiness, identify and close service delivery gaps, and strengthen referral systems.

The minister said the Government will support the roll‑out but that operational responsibility rests with the GHS and its regional and district leadership.