Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has urged Boards of health institutions to respect the boundaries between governance and management, warning that Board members should not interfere in the day-to-day running of institutions.
“The day-to-day running of the institution is not the responsibility of the Board or Board members,” Mr Akandoh said on the second day of the Ministry of Health’s High-Level Mid-Year Review Retreat in Ho.
The Minister made the remarks during a training session on corporate governance and the roles and responsibilities of Boards and management in Ghana’s health institutions.
He said a clear understanding of the separate responsibilities of Boards and Chief Executive Officers was essential to preventing interference and ensuring institutions were managed effectively.
According to Mr Akandoh, strong corporate governance was also necessary to ensure that public resources were used responsibly and ultimately translated into better health outcomes for Ghanaians.
He said he was committed to ensuring that health agencies had the appropriate legislative instruments to strengthen governance and provide clearer frameworks for the administration of their institutions.
The Minister also called on health institutions to be more careful in how they spend public funds, particularly on seminars, training programmes and official travel.
He said spending decisions must take into account the country’s limited resources and should be guided by value for money and accountability.
Mr Akandoh said the governance training was intended to help participants understand their respective roles, avoid institutional infractions and make decisions that support effective management.
He encouraged participants to take the training seriously and use the opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of their responsibilities as Board members and managers.
The Ministry said the retreat forms part of efforts to strengthen governance, accountability and management across Ghana’s health sector.
