Ridge Medical CEO calls for private sector participation in healthcare
By Rebecca Okine
Chief Executive Officer of Ridge Medical Centre, Emmanuel Gyimah Amankwa, has urged greater private sector participation in Ghana’s health sector, stressing that government alone cannot sustain the delivery of quality health care.
Mr Amankwa made the call at the 2025 Ghana Corporate Brands Awards, where Ridge Medical Centre was recognised for excellence in service delivery.
While expressing delight at the recognition, he emphasised that health care challenges such as brain drain, human resource shortages and overreliance on imported medical supplies demand stronger partnerships between government and private providers.
“The government is producing many nurses and doctors, but it cannot absorb all of them. This is where the private sector must step in, not only to employ but to build capacity and create opportunities that keep skilled health workers in the country,” he said.
Mr Amankwa identified the loss of trained professionals to developed countries as a major challenge, warning that Ghana risks weakening its health system if workers continue to migrate in large numbers.
He emphasised that without deliberate strategies to retain professionals, service delivery will remain strained.
Mr Amankwa also highlighted the difficulties health facilities face with logistics, noting that most medical equipment and drugs are imported.
This, he explained, drives up costs and makes health delivery more challenging. He called for increased investment in local production of medical supplies to reduce dependence on imports and improve efficiency in hospitals and clinics.
“Human resources and logistics remain the biggest challenges. Stocking up on staff is difficult, and equipment and drugs are mostly imported. Encouraging local production while creating an enabling environment for private health providers will go a long way to strengthen the sector,” Mr Amankwa noted.
According to Mr Amankwa, deeper private sector involvement will not only ease the burden on government but also improve access to quality health services across the country, particularly in underserved communities.
He highlighted that institutions like Ridge Medical Centre stand ready to complement government efforts through innovation and expanded capacity.
The CEO added that collaborative approaches between government, private health facilities and other stakeholders are essential if Ghana is to build a resilient and sustainable health care system capable of meeting the growing needs of its population.
