The Ahafo Region has officially established itself as a top-performing healthcare hub in Ghana, securing a high-ranking position on the national health ladder for the 2025 service year.
During the Annual Health Sector Performance Review held at Hwidiem, health officials revealed that the region achieved a holistic assessment score of 4.25, categorizing it as a "high-performing" zone.
The two-day meeting, themed “Improving Primary Healthcare Delivery through Excellence in Healthcare Delivery to achieve Universal Health Coverage,” brought together traditional leaders, medical professionals, and policy experts to audit the region's progress.
1. Breakthrough Indicators: Maternal and Family Health
The review highlighted significant gains in key service indicators, particularly in reproductive health and maternal services.
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Family Planning Surge: Coverage rose dramatically from 53.7% in 2024 to 63.5% in 2025.
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Maternal & Child Health: The region recorded "significant gains," positioning it as a model for the newly created administrative regions in Ghana.
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HIV Response: Ahafo also took the top spot nationally in performance against the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets for HIV testing and treatment.
2. The Pharmaceutical Vision for PHC
Dr. Dominic Korsah Otchere, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services for the Ghana Health Service (GHS), emphasized that primary healthcare (PHC) is the bedrock of the nation's 2030 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals.
Strategic Directives for 2026: | Area of Focus | Goal | | :--- | :--- | | Financial Discipline | Heads of institutions were charged to safeguard facility resources to maintain public trust. | | Logistics Management | Elimination of essential medicine shortages through better monitoring and supply chain tracking. | | Network of Practice | Upgrading health centers into "Model Health Centers" that serve as hubs for rural sub-districts. | | Antimicrobial Stewardship | Combating the surge in drug resistance through stricter oversight of antimicrobial use. |
3. Infrastructure and the "Agenda 111" Impact
The Ahafo Regional Minister, in a speech read on her behalf, confirmed that the government is intensifying infrastructure to support this high performance.
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CHPS Compounds: Dedicated funding from the District Assemblies Common Fund is completing community-based facilities across the region.
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Regional Medical Store: Plans are underway to establish a modern storage facility in Ahafo to ensure the timely supply of vaccines and medicines.
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Agenda 111: Massive hospital projects in Kukuom and Kenyasi are currently "bustling with activity" and nearing completion to serve as referral points.
4. Roadmap to Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
Dr. Mrs. Akosua Agyeiwaa Owusu Sarpong, the Ahafo Regional Director of Health, noted that while the 4.25 score is a milestone, the task ahead remains heavy. The region’s 2026 strategy is now aligned with the national "Life-Course Approach" (2026–2028), which ensures health services are coordinated from pregnancy through old age.
Key Pillars of the 2026 Strategy:
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Workforce Capacity: Rigorous training for nurses and midwives on the new "MahamaCare" free primary healthcare guidelines.
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Data-Driven Decisions: Scaling up the use of electronic trackers (e-trackers) to improve data quality, as successfully piloted in the HIV program.
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Patient-Centred Equity: Ensuring that rural communities, which make up the bulk of Ahafo, are not left behind in service delivery.
The Bottom Line
The 2025 Review proves that Ahafo is no longer just a "newly created region"—it is a national pacesetter. By combining strict financial discipline with a surge in maternal health outcomes, the region has provided a blueprint for how excellence in primary healthcare can lead to Universal Health Coverage. As Dr. Otchere noted, the "pillar" of the system is the dedication and sacrifice of the staff on the ground.
