SONA 2026: "Accept postings to our underserved areas” — Prez. Mahama appeals to health workers

President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to health professionals across the country to accept postings to deprived and underserved communities as part of a national effort to strengthen equitable healthcare delivery.

Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the floor of Parliament on Friday, President Mahama called on what he described as Ghana’s “gallant health workers” to respond positively to postings outside major urban centres.

“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to our gallant health workers to accept postings to our underserved areas, seeing as it is a national call to duty, while we work to ensure that they have an enabling environment to do their work,” the President stated.

Strengthening Health Infrastructure

The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment not to abandon ongoing and unfinished health projects.

He said government would continue retooling facilities, strengthening emergency and disease surveillance systems, and aligning infrastructure expansion with staffing, equipment and financing.

In the 2026 Budget, provision will be made to commence the construction of regional hospitals in the Oti, Savannah and Western North Regions to expand access to quality healthcare.

He also announced that government would implement Phase Two of the Regional Hospital Project to increase bed capacity at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, while continuing work on the Police Hospital and the La General Hospital.

In the Ashanti Region, projects to be completed include the maternity and children’s block of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

President Mahama disclosed plans to scale up specialist and advanced nursing training to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare workforce.

He further revealed that access to advanced cardiac care — including cardiac catheterization services — would be expanded at: Tamale Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

The move, he said, would reduce overseas referrals and position Ghana as a centre for specialized care within the sub-region, in line with medical tourism objectives.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith and Hawa Abubakar