The Minister for Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has called for a clearer distinction between the responsibilities of boards and management in Ghana’s health institutions to strengthen corporate governance and improve institutional efficiency.
According to the Minister, boards are not responsible for the day-to-day administration of health institutions, urging board members to focus on their oversight responsibilities while leaving operational matters to management.
“The day-to-day running of the institution is not the responsibility of the board or board members,” he stated.
Hon. Akandoh made the remarks on the second day of the Ministry of Health’s High-Level Mid-Year Review Retreat in Ho, where participants are undergoing training on corporate governance and the roles and responsibilities of boards.
He said effective governance was essential to ensuring that public resources were properly managed and used to improve the well-being of Ghanaians.
The Minister further stressed the importance of clearly defining the respective roles of boards and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) to prevent unnecessary interference in the day-to-day management of health institutions.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that Health Agencies have appropriate Legislative Instruments (LIs) to strengthen governance and provide a clear framework for the effective administration of the institutions.
Hon. Akandoh urged health institutions to exercise greater prudence in the use of public funds, particularly expenditure on seminars, training programmes and official travel.
He noted that such expenditures must take into consideration the country’s current resource constraints and should be guided by value for money and accountability.
The Minister said the governance training would equip participants with a better understanding of their responsibilities, help prevent institutional infractions and promote decisions that enhance accountability and effective management.
He encouraged participants to actively engage in the training and gain a clear understanding of their respective roles to contribute to stronger governance across Ghana’s health sector.
