Deputy Minister-designate for Health, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has proposed a transformative idea to revolutionise healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Speaking before the Parliamentary Vetting Committee on Tuesday, Acquah suggested the establishment of clinics within or close to market centres across the country to enhance access to healthcare services.
“People will not normally take their health seriously and will not bother to visit a health facility until their condition is critical,” Acquah observed.
He argued that situating clinics near marketplaces can significantly reduce this tendency by offering convenient access to health services and encouraging people to seek medical attention promptly.
“If confirmed as the Deputy Minister for Health, I will propose this idea to the sector Minister and Minister for Local Government and together push this agenda to bring healthcare to the doorstep of Ghanaians,” Acquah stated.
If implemented, he stressed that this proposal could mark a significant shift in how healthcare services are provided in Ghana, making them more accessible to the population and potentially improving public health outcomes.
Drawing on his extensive experience in the private healthcare sector, where he has successfully established five private hospitals and four mortuaries, Akwasi Acquah reassured that his past business ventures would not interfere with his duties as Deputy Minister.
“I have already divorced myself from these ventures,” he stated.
He underscored his readiness to leverage his background to support the health ministry’s goals and foster private participation in healthcare delivery.
The nominee also touched on the challenges facing mortuary workers and the potential for funeral tourism in Ghana.
Speaking on the lack of formal training for mortuary attendants, he expressed his determination to address these issues.
He said, “When this House gives me the nod, I will take a particular interest in the agency and, with the support of the Ministry, would ensure this agency gets the needed support and attention to what it was set out to do,” he promised.