Akandoh Pushes Health Sector Collaboration With Japanese Ambassador

The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has met with the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Mochizuki Hisanobu, to discuss ongoing and future areas of cooperation in Ghana’s health sector.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Health, focused on enhancing existing partnerships between the Government of Ghana and Japan particularly in strengthening health research, improving medical equipment capacity, and supporting institutional development at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

Discussions highlighted Japan’s longstanding support to Ghana’s health sector through agencies such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other bilateral initiatives.

Both parties emphasized the importance of sustaining this collaboration, including exploring opportunities for private sector involvement in health infrastructure and research advancement.

In another development, the Health Minister, has lauded the Operation Walk programme for easing the financial strain on patients in need of orthopaedic surgery.

Visiting the St. Joseph Hospital in Koforidua, he observed how the initiative is helping Ghanaians who once faced surgery costs of up to GH₵70,000 now access care at a fraction of the price, an intervention he described as both lifesaving and economically transformative.

He indicated that plans are underway for further collaboration between the Ministry and Operation Walk to expand similar services to northern, central, and other underserved regions.

“Government will do whatever it takes to strengthen this partnership and ensure these missionary services reach other parts of the country,” he said.

Hon. Akandoh also encouraged organizations and individuals wishing to donate medical equipment or consumables to work directly with the Ministry to ensure transparency and proper distribution.

“These are the kinds of partnerships Ghana needs,” he emphasized, pledging the Ministry’s full support to initiatives that bring relief and restore dignity to patients nationwide.

Director of Operation Walk, Kimberly Murray, expressed gratitude for the Ministry’s support and commended the Ghanaian medical team for their dedication and collaboration.

She noted that the commitment of local doctors and nurses continues to inspire the visiting team, as together they are transforming lives and strengthening Ghana’s surgical capacity for the future.