The newly appointed Director-General of Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, paid a brief but significant working visit to the Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC) on Friday, 04th April, 2025 where he engaged with the management and staff in a candid discussion on the future of health research and its integration into national health delivery.
With a warm welcome by the Centre’s Director, Dr. Patrick Ansah, and senior staff members, Prof. Akoriyea received a concise overview of NHRC’s history, ongoing research projects, and its contributions to public health in Ghana. Dr. Ansah also highlighted critical challenges faced by the Centre, including limited visibility within the health system, sustainability concerns, and misalignment between research output and policy uptake.
Prof. Akoriyea called for a paradigm shift in how research institutions operate within the GHS, emphasizing the need to bring research closer to communities and health policy. “Ghana Health Service was designed for primary health care, and primary health care is not just about hospitals, it’s about the community,” he said.
He expressed concern over the lengthy timelines of many research projects, arguing that the results often come too late to meet pressing health needs. “When there are people dying of meningitis, they are not interested in 10 years’ time research outcome,” he stressed, urging researchers to be more responsive to immediate public health priorities.
Prof. Akoriyea also underscored the importance of financial independence and ownership in shaping Ghana’s research agenda. He noted that an overreliance on external donor funding could sideline the nation’s own health priorities. “We are losing our independence because of financial issues… Most of the research is being driven by big companies,” he cautioned.
On health communication, the Director-General called for unified national campaigns to reduce public confusion. “Let’s have one campaign on everything… The people even become confused,” he noted, adding that health promotion officers must play a stronger role in linking research, policy, and community-level engagement.
He concluded by appealing to the NHRC team to remain committed to their role in national development. “You can’t love your motherland without loving the citizens of the land,” he said, calling for renewed patriotism and purpose in service delivery.
Dr. Ansah welcomed the Director-General’s comments, describing the visit as both timely and inspiring. “It’s been a worry for a long time: how to be integrated, how to feel part of the service. Your coming today has really inspired us, and we look forward to our meeting on Tuesday,” he said.
Though brief, the visit left a strong impression on staff and management, signaling renewed commitment from the top leadership of GHS toward integrating research more effectively into the national health agenda.