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Don’t impose additional burdens on families- CRI

Bright Appiah

The Executive Director of Child Rights International (CRI), Mr Bright Appiah, has called on government not to impose additional financial burdens on families whose children are beneficiaries of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.

The call was in reaction to concerns over proposals suggesting that parents should bear additional costs related to the Free SHS policy, including expenses for food and accommodation.

He argues that such measures undermine the policy’s fundamental principles of equity, inclusivity, and universal access to secondary education.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr Bright Appiah, CRI emphasised that the Free SHS policy was designed to eliminate financial barriers to education, ensuring that all children have equal opportunities.

“Requiring parents to shoulder feeding and accommodation costs, according to him, introduces inequalities and contradicts the policy’s original intent,” Mr Appiah stated.

He underscored that while logistical challenges in implementing Free SHS persist, it is the responsibility of the government and implementing authorities to resolve these issues, not parents.

He called for direct engagement between stakeholders and the government to address any operational or systemic flaws.

Highlighting Ghana’s commitment to international child rights standards, including the Children’s Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, he reiterated that policies affecting children must prioritise their well-being.

Mr Appiah called on stakeholders to refrain from actions that could deprive students of essential needs like food and accommodation, reaffirming that every child has a right to education without impediments.

“As stakeholders we have the mandate to collaborate and find solutions that would protect and enhance Free SHS policy to secure a brighter future for Ghanaian children and the nation as a whole,” he said.

Mr Appiah reaffirmed CRI’s dedication to safeguarding children’s rights and ensuring that educational policies do not compromise access to education.

By Agnes Opoku Sarpong

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Minister of Health appeals to Tamale Teaching Hospital striking doctors

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to the striking doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to calll off the suspension and come to the negotiation table.

However, he refused to apologise as demanded by the striking doctors.

The doctors after a meeting yesterday have withdrawn emergency services following the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.

This follows an unannounced visit to the hospital by the Minister on Tuesday.

The Minister made the appeal when addressing the media in Accra on Today, April 24 2025.

According to him, dialogue is the only way out to resolve the issue, adding that he was ready collaborate with them.

“I am prepared for us to come around the table and discuss whatever we need to discuss,” Mr Akandoh said.

“My humble appeal to my wonderful medical doctors and health professionals at Tamale Teaching Hospital is that I am the first person to take care of your interests. Therefore, let’s call off the strike and let’s all regroup and strategise going forward,” he concluded.

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Health Minister donates medical equipment to Tamale Teaching Hospital, pledges commitment to reforms

The Minister for Health Kwabena Miintah Akandoh has reiterated government’s commitment to address long-standing challenges in the health sector, describing the health system as one that requires urgent reform and collective responsibility.

He made these remarks during a donation of some essential medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health.

The donation included a wide range of equipment such as ECG machines, ICU ventilators, cardiac monitors, anesthesia machines, infant incubators, and essential

Consumables amounting to about 35 items.

Among the items highlighted were

Emergency Health Equipment (EHE) sets, nebulizer sets, and medical-grade towels.

The Health Minister acknowledged the difficult working conditions health professionals continue to endure and emphasized that government efforts alone would not be enough to resolve systemic issues.

He called for unity across the health sector and urged all stakeholders, including medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to work together to ensure that the country’s limited resources are used efficiently.

He noted that the wellbeing of the ordinary Ghanaian should be central to healthcare delivery, cautioning against practices that marginalize the underprivileged due to resource scarcity. According to him, every Ghanaian life is valuable, and the system must reflect that belief in both policy and practice.

Mr.Akandoh stressed that his leadership approach is rooted in humility, collaboration, and respect for all health workers. While acknowledging that change may come with challenges, he maintained that cooperation is key to achieving lasting improvements in the sector.

The Minister pleaded with health professionals in the Tamale Teaching Hospital to call off the strike and regroup to strategize on more effective ways to address their concerns through dialogue and collaboration with relevant authorities.

The donation to the Tamale Teaching Hospital forms part of a broader national initiative to modernize medical infrastructure and enhance service delivery in Ghana’s healthcare.