The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, has announced plans to upgrade key health facilities in the region to strengthen healthcare delivery and expand medical training capacity.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Annual Performance Review Meeting of the Ghana Health Service in Bolgatanga, the minister revealed that the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital and the Upper East Regional Hospital will be upgraded into teaching hospitals.
The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to establish a medical school at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, aimed at building local capacity and addressing longstanding human resource gaps in the region’s health sector.
According to the minister, the move is expected to improve both the quality of healthcare delivery and the availability of skilled personnel, as more professionals will be trained and retained within the region.
“Plans are underway to upgrade the Navrongo War Memorial and the Bolgatanga Regional Hospitals to teaching hospitals, which will serve as primary clinical training facilities for medical students. Encouragingly, the Ghana Health Service is actively supporting this process to facilitate the eventual training of medical doctors at the university,” he said.
He added that progress is being made to resolve the land dispute affecting the Upper East Regional Hospital, a development seen as critical to enabling its expansion.
“I am pleased to note that significant progress has been made towards resolving the Bolgatanga Hospital land dispute. The government remains fully committed to securing the land and ensuring an amicable solution that will pave the way for the smooth development and expansion of this critical facility,” he said.
In addition to infrastructure development, the minister highlighted complementary measures to strengthen the health system, including efforts by municipal and district assemblies to sponsor the training of medical doctors under bonding arrangements. These measures are intended to ensure that trained professionals return to serve in their respective districts.
“On the issue of human resources for health, particularly medical doctors, our Municipal and District Chief Executives and their assemblies have demonstrated strong commitment to addressing staffing gaps at the district level. Many assemblies are now prepared to sponsor the training of medical doctors under structured bonding arrangements, ensuring that beneficiaries return to serve in their respective districts upon completion,” he said.
Mr. Atanga noted that targeted interventions are also being introduced to improve conditions of service in underserved areas, with the aim of retaining health workers and enhancing service delivery.
He stressed that strengthening healthcare in the region will require sustained collaboration among government, health professionals, development partners, and local communities.
The minister described the annual performance review meeting as a critical platform for assessing progress, identifying gaps, and developing practical strategies to improve healthcare outcomes. He expressed confidence that the planned upgrades and ongoing reforms will significantly enhance access to quality healthcare in the Upper East Region.
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