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Veep Opoku-Agyemang calls for urgent reforms to retain Africa's health workforce

The Vice President of Ghana, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for urgent and coordinated reforms to address Africa’s growing challenge of retaining trained health professionals, warning that the continent risks losing critical human capital despite heavy investments in training.

Speaking at the Second Africa Health Workforce Investment Forum held in Accra on May 6, 2026, the Vice President highlighted a key paradox confronting African health systems: the ability to train large numbers of health workers, but the inability to keep them within domestic healthcare structures.

Framing the issue as both simple and urgent, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang challenged policymakers and stakeholders to confront the root causes of the problem.

“What makes it so easy for us to use scarce resources to train, and what makes it so difficult for us to retain the people we have trained?” she asked.

She emphasised that retention must now be treated as a central development priority rather than a secondary policy concern.

According to the Vice President, Africa’s health workforce plays a crucial role beyond healthcare delivery, serving as a foundation for economic growth, human capital development, and national resilience.

She stressed that effective deployment, sustainable employment, and dignified working conditions must form the core of policy interventions aimed at strengthening the sector.

Health outcomes, she noted, are directly tied to productivity, economic stability, and even national security, making investment in human resources for health essential to long-term development goals, including those outlined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

While acknowledging significant progress across Africa over the past two decades—such as improved life expectancy and expanded access to healthcare services—the Vice President warned that these gains remain fragile.

Without a stable, motivated, and adequately supported workforce, she cautioned, many of these achievements could be reversed.

Her remarks come amid increasing concern over the migration of African health professionals to developed countries, a trend often referred to as “brain drain.” Better salaries, improved working conditions, and access to advanced facilities abroad continue to attract skilled personnel away from local health systems.

This trend, she noted, creates critical gaps in service delivery and places additional strain on already overstretched healthcare systems across the continent.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged stakeholders—including governments, development partners, and labour organisations—to focus on practical, sustainable solutions that go beyond training.

She called for policies that ensure:

  • Competitive remuneration and improved working conditions
  • Clear career progression pathways
  • Adequate infrastructure and resources for healthcare delivery
  • Stronger incentives to retain professionals within their home countries

    The forum brought together policymakers, health experts, development partners, and labour stakeholders from across Africa to explore strategies for strengthening the health workforce and improving service delivery.

    Discussions are expected to shape future policy directions aimed at building resilient health systems capable of meeting the continent’s growing healthcare demands.

Veep Opoku-Agyemang calls for urgent reforms to retain Africa's health workforce

John Jinapor signs key gas expansion agreement to boost Ghana’s energy security

The Government of Ghana has taken a significant step toward strengthening the country’s energy sector by signing a major term sheet agreement with Eni Ghana E&P, Vitol Upstream Ghana Limited, and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to expand domestic gas production under the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) project.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the government by John Abdulai Jinapor, alongside Cassiel Ato Forson, marking a coordinated effort between the energy and finance sectors to accelerate strategic investments in the country’s petroleum industry.

This term sheet sets out the commercial framework for the development of new gas infrastructure under the OCTP Non-Associated Gas (NAG) Upgrade Project. It builds on a Memorandum of Intent signed in September 2025, which committed all parties to collaborate on long-term initiatives aimed at boosting Ghana’s gas production capacity and improving energy reliability.

Under the expansion plan, gas output from the OCTP project is projected to increase significantly—reaching up to 350 million standard cubic feet per day by 2028. This increase will be driven by the development of the Gye Nyame field, a key offshore resource, as well as the installation of critical infrastructure, including a booster compressor and a new non-associated gas system on the project’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The OCTP project has already played a vital role in Ghana’s energy mix, supplying gas for power generation and supporting industrial growth. The planned upgrade is expected to further enhance energy security by ensuring a more stable and reliable supply of domestic gas. It will also help reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported fuels, which have historically exposed the country to global price volatility.

In addition to strengthening power generation, the increased gas supply is expected to support expanding industrial demand and improve energy access for households. Analysts believe the project could also contribute to economic growth by creating jobs and encouraging further investment in the upstream petroleum sector.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr. Jinapor described the agreement as a major milestone in Ghana’s energy development agenda.

“Today’s signing sends a strong signal that Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector remains open, stable and ready for investment,” he stated.

He further emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining a transparent and investor-friendly environment while ensuring that Ghana’s natural resources are managed responsibly and deliver long-term benefits to citizens.

The agreement underscores Ghana’s broader strategy to position itself as a leading energy hub in West Africa, leveraging its natural gas resources to drive sustainable development and economic resilience.

John Jinapor signs key gas expansion agreement to boost Ghana’s energy security
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