Free Primary Healthcare Set for April 2026 Rollout – Health Minister
Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has reaffirmed government’s resolve to introduce free primary healthcare nationwide by April 2026, describing it as a crucial milestone toward achieving Universal Health Coverage.
He made the remarks on Saturday, February 14, on the sidelines of the Accra Reset Addis Reckoning event in Addis Ababa, where he underscored the administration’s commitment to expanding equitable access to basic health services. According to the Minister, every Ghanaian contributing to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) deserves to benefit from accessible and affordable primary healthcare.
Mr. Akandoh disclosed that preparatory work for the rollout is far advanced, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama to ensure the programme becomes fully operational before the end of April 2026. He stressed that the timeline is firm and that implementation will cover health facilities across the country.
The Health Minister also drew attention to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), revealing that such conditions account for approximately 42 percent of all deaths in Ghana. He described the figure as worrying and said it highlights the urgency of sustained intervention.
To confront the challenge, he announced that “Mahama Care,” a flagship initiative of the current administration, is now fully operational. The programme focuses on the prevention, early detection, and management of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases.
Mr. Akandoh noted that since President Mahama assumed office, several reforms have been introduced to strengthen the healthcare system and channel resources into priority areas. He emphasised that investing in primary healthcare and combating NCDs are central to improving national health outcomes.
“With nearly 42 percent of deaths linked to non-communicable diseases, decisive and targeted action is imperative,” he stated, adding that government remains committed to building a resilient and inclusive health system for all Ghanaians.
Speaking in a media interview, Dr. Otokunor said the present administration has adopted a transparent and farmer-centred pricing policy to ensure producers benefit directly from favourable global cocoa prices.
According to him, successive governments had failed to allocate a substantial share of the FOB price to farmers. He argued that prior to 2025, cocoa producers did not receive more than 70 per cent of the FOB value.
Dr. Otokunor contrasted the current pricing regime with that of 2024, when the previous administration announced a producer price of GH¢3,000 per bag. Although that figure was publicly presented as representing about 76 per cent of the cocoa price, he maintained that it did not reflect the actual international market value at the time.
He explained that the government then relied on forward contracts valued around GH¢3,200 per bag. However, he claimed the prevailing international FOB price stood at approximately GH¢9,600, making the portion paid to farmers significantly lower than suggested.
“In determining fairness, you must base your calculations on the real international market price, not on forward sales that may not reflect current market conditions,” he stated.
Dr. Otokunor further contended that between 2023 and 2024, farmers effectively received about 25 per cent of the true FOB price when assessed against global market values.
He indicated that under the new policy framework, farmers are now benefitting from rising international prices, currently estimated at $3,700 per tonne. Based on these figures, he said the government is paying over 90 per cent of the FOB price directly to producers.
Describing the move as unprecedented since the era of Tetteh Quarshie, Dr. Otokunor said the policy represents a corrective step to align domestic cocoa pricing with international realities while ensuring farmers are adequately rewarded for their contribution to the economy.
