Ghana's proposed GH¢1.2 billion Free Primary Healthcare plan criticized as misplaced priority

Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, has criticized the government's plan to allocate GH¢1.2 billion annually to the proposed Free Primary Healthcare programme, calling it a misplaced priority. He questioned the policy's rationale given the number of incomplete critical healthcare infrastructure projects. His comments follow disclosures by the Minister of Health regarding the program's projected annual cost, which aims to expand access to basic healthcare services. Dr Ayew Afriye argued that Ghana already has a primary healthcare framework through Community-based Health Planning and Services CHPS compounds, supported by community health workers and auxiliary nurses. He stated that public awareness about preventive healthcare is not the issue, as education is ongoing at the community level. The lawmaker also expressed concern about the condition of existing health facilities, noting that many district hospitals operate in outdated structures. He insisted that the government should focus on completing ongoing hospital projects under the Agenda 111 initiative to address healthcare infrastructure gaps, reduce referrals, and create employment. He emphasized that while CHPS compounds and health centers exist, modern district hospitals are lacking. Dr Ayew Afriye proposed a phased approach to completing Agenda 111 projects over the next decade, arguing it would yield more sustainable results. He noted that nearly GH¢4.7 billion has been invested