President John Dramani Mahama has launched Ghana’s Free Primary Healthcare Programme, announcing that all Ghanaians will undergo mandatory annual health screening as part of a nationwide push to strengthen preventive healthcare.
The programme was officially launched on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Shai Osudoku District Hospital in the Greater Accra Region.
Speaking at the event, President Mahama said the policy builds on the gains of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) but places greater emphasis on early detection and prevention, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“Since we introduced the NHIS, access to healthcare has improved significantly. However, there are still pockets of underserved areas, especially in rural communities,” he said.
He explained that, unlike the NHIS, which largely responds to illness, the Free Primary Healthcare Programme focuses on preventing disease through routine screening.
“A major component of Free Primary Healthcare is screening. Every Ghanaian must be screened at least once a year. Basic checks will include blood pressure monitoring to detect hypertension, diabetes screening, and other common non-communicable diseases,” the President stated.
According to him, early detection would allow for simple interventions such as lifestyle and dietary changes, while more serious cases would be referred to district hospitals for further care.
“If you are developing high blood pressure, a change in diet or lifestyle can help reduce it. If your blood pressure is already high, you will be referred to the district hospital level,” he explained.
President Mahama also called on traditional and religious leaders to support the implementation of the programme by mobilising their communities to participate in the annual screenings.
“We will need our traditional and religious leaders to help mobilise their communities so that every Ghanaian is screened at least once a year,” he urged.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the rollout would be done in phases, starting with 150 districts across the country.
He described the intervention as timely, noting that it would strengthen primary healthcare delivery and reduce pressure on tertiary health facilities.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
