Iddrisu Alhassan

Ghana Health Service

Background The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Chapter 14) provided for the establishment of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) as part of the Public Services of Ghana. In 1996, Parliament passed the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act 1996, Act 525, to pave way for the establishment of GHS. The GHS is therefore a Public Service body established under Act 525 of 1996 as required by the 1992 constitution. It is an autonomous Executive Agency responsible for implementation of national policies under the control of the Minister for Health through its governing Council – the Ghana Health Service Council. Rationale The establishment of the GHS was an essential part of the key strategies identified in the Health Sector Reform process in the 1990s, which was outlined in the Medium-Term Health Strategy and Five Year Programme of Work for the period 1997-2001. The strategies were necessary steps in establishing a more equitable, efficient, accessible, and responsive healthcare system. The reforms build on the reorganization of the MOH that began in 1993, which was explicitly designed to set the scene for the establishment of the GHS. The reforms also provided a sound organizational framework for the growing degree of managerial responsibility that had already been delegated to districts and hospitals. Themes that were central to the reorganization of 1993 remain important today for GHS: careful stewardship of scarce resources, clear lines of responsibility and control, decentralization, and accountability for performance rather than inputs. Our Mandate To provide and prudently manage comprehensive and accessible health service with special emphasis on primary health care at regional, district, and sub-district levels in accordance with approved national policies Our Vision All communities have access to timely, quality, and comprehensive healthcare Our Motto Your Health, Our Concern.