Ghana’s Parliament has approved GH₵22.80 billion for the Ministry of Health’s operations for the 2026 financial year, marking a significant investment in health service delivery, infrastructure, and human resource strengthening.
The allocation, which excludes funding for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), is expected to support critical ongoing and new projects aimed at expanding healthcare access nationwide.
Breakdown of the GH₵22.80bn Allocation
The approved budget is structured as follows:
- GH₵16.25 billion (71.25%) – Compensation of employees
- GH₵4.51 billion (19.79%) – Goods and services
- GH₵2.04 billion (8.96%) – Capital expenditure
In terms of funding sources:
- 71.40% will be provided by the Government of Ghana
- 26.35% will come from internally generated funds
- 2.25% will come from donor loans and grants
Health Service Delivery Gets the Largest Share
A significant 82.10% of the 2026 budget is earmarked for health service delivery, underscoring the ministry’s focus on improving direct healthcare access across the country. Management and administration receives 10.34%, human resource development 4.62%, and health sector regulation 2.94%.
Key Projects to Be Continued and Completed
The Ministry plans to complete all ongoing health infrastructure projects, including:
- Construction and equipping of CHPS compounds and health centres nationwide
- Reconstruction of the La General Hospital
- Agenda 111 hospital projects
- Rehabilitation of Juaboso Hospital
- Completion of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternity Block
New Projects Set for Commencement
The 2026 budget also approves major new health infrastructure initiatives, including:
- Construction of 12 additional CHPS compounds
- Psychiatric hospital projects
- A specialist hospital at Ajumako Bisease
- Redevelopment of Ho Teaching Hospital
- A 500-bed paediatric hospital in Accra
- Construction of new Central Medical Stores
- Completion of district hospitals in Shama, Bole, Bawku, Akatsi, and Sandema
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, assured Parliament that no inherited project will be abandoned, emphasizing the government’s commitment to continuity.
Total Health Sector Funding Rises to GH₵34.22bn with NHIS
While briefing Parliament, the Minister clarified that the figure excludes allocations for the NHIS and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
- GH₵9.04bn – NHIS
- GH₵2.259bn – Ghana Medical Trust Fund
This brings total health sector financing for 2026 to approximately GH₵34.22 billion.
Nurses Recruited in 2024 Have Been Fully Paid
Responding to concerns about unpaid health workers, the Minister confirmed that all 13,500 nurses and midwives recruited in 2024 have been placed on the 2025 payroll. He emphasized the necessity of financial provision before recruitment, noting that political-season hiring without budgeting is unsustainable.
Digitalisation of Medical Records Ongoing
On concerns about missing patient records, the Minister explained that the Ministry has begun rolling out the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) across teaching hospitals.
The system enables seamless data access through health information exchanges, ensuring that no patient loses their medical data regardless of the facility they visit.
