The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has expressed concern over growing public distrust in the country’s healthcare system, citing poor service delivery, weak leadership, and delayed care as key factors.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General at the 32nd Annual General Conference of the District Directors of Health Service Group, Dr. Kennedy Brightson said,
“We must confront a difficult reality: public trust in our health services is deteriorating. Too many Ghanaians complain about our poor attitude, lack of leadership, weak supervision and delayed care.”
To address the crisis, the Ghana Health Service announced strict accountability measures targeting absenteeism and poor leadership among district health directors. An award scheme will also be introduced to recognize compassionate practitioners, aimed at restoring integrity and motivating quality service delivery.
Dr. Brightson reminded district directors that they are directly accountable for the quality of care in their jurisdictions, stressing that “leadership failure at the local level can’t continue any longer.”
National Chairman of the District Directors of Health Service Group, Dr. Justice Thomas Sevugu, appealed to government for adequate operational funding and logistics to strengthen district-level healthcare delivery.
“As the base of the pyramid of health, things have to be set right. We need the resources to prepare for emergencies and deliver effective care,” he said.
The conference, themed “Enhancing Health Security in Ghana: Innovations, Preparedness, and Workforce Well-being for a Sustainable Future”, underscored the urgent need for reform, compassion, and collaboration to rebuild public confidence in Ghana’s health system.
