The incoming Ahafo Regional Director of Health, Dr Mrs Akosua Owusu-Sarpong, has commended the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health for their historic monitoring visit to the Goaso Municipal Hospital, describing it as a rare and uplifting gesture that offers renewed hope to health workers in remote parts of Ghana.
During the Committee’s inspection of the facility on Friday, April 25, Dr Owusu-Sarpong—an accomplished public health professional with decades of service across multiple regions—shared her admiration for the visit.
“In all my years of service—from my time as a medical officer and medical superintendent at government hospitals in the Volta Region, Central Region, and Greater Accra—I have never witnessed a visit from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health,” she remarked.
She emphasized the emotional impact of such attention on healthcare workers in underserved areas.
“Sometimes working in remote areas feels like no one hears your problems. Now they are here to listen, and for that, we are truly grateful,” she said.
Dr. Owusu-Sarpong’s career has spanned roles as a medical officer and medical superintendent at Akuse Government Hospital, District Director for six years in the Volta Region, another seven years in the Eastern Region, six years in the Central Region, and one and a half years as Regional Director for Greater Accra before her new posting to the Ahafo Region.
While lauding the Committee’s engagement with frontline health workers, she also drew attention to pressing challenges confronting the Goaso Municipal Hospital.
“This hospital is designated as a regional facility, but it is nowhere near the status of a true Regional Hospital. We don’t have a single ICU bed. At least two or three ICU and high-dependency unit (HDU) beds could save lives, especially for patients suffering from conditions like eclampsia. Without them, patients risk dying or facing perilous transfers on poor roads,” she said.
The Ahafo Regional Director of Health also raised concerns about the lack of a Regional Medical Store, which forces healthcare workers to travel long distances to the Bono Region in emergencies.
“We need your support to establish a regional medical store in Ahafo. Access to essential commodities and logistics is part of the WHO health system building blocks—and right now, we are falling short,” she appealed to the Committee members.
On staff welfare, she advocated for a public-private partnership (PPP) to develop residential flats for hospital staff.
“There is land available. If a private developer could construct accommodation for staff, it would greatly improve response times during emergencies and reduce transport costs. It’s something worth exploring,” she said.
Dr. Owusu-Sarpong reserved special encouragement to her colleagues stating, “To our hardworking staff—keep up the good work,” and appealed to the lawmakers,” And to our Honorable Members, thank you for your commitment. Please continue to advocate for us so we can build a healthcare system that truly delivers quality outcomes for our patients.”
The visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health forms part of a nationwide monitoring exercise aimed at assessing conditions in healthcare facilities and engaging directly with regional health administrators, staff and management of Government-sponsored hospitals.
