Free Primary Healthcare to Cost GH¢1.2bn Annually as NHIS Coverage Reaches 66% — Health Minister
Ghana will need an estimated GH¢1.2 billion each year to sustain its planned free primary healthcare programme, according to the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series press briefing in Accra on April 13, 2026, the minister explained that the figure reflects careful planning and projections made ahead of the programme’s official rollout. He emphasized that the initiative is not a temporary intervention but a well-structured policy backed by extensive consultations.
Mr Akandoh also revealed that enrolment under the National Health Insurance Scheme has seen a notable rise, increasing from about 57 percent to 66 percent within the past year.
To support the implementation, the 2026 national budget has earmarked GH¢1.5 billion for the programme. Overall, the health sector received GH¢34 billion, including GH¢11 billion allocated to the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Additional funding commitments include GH¢2.3 billion for the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCare, and GH¢600 million for the construction of three new regional hospitals in the Savannah, Oti, and Western North regions.
The programme is set to be officially launched by John Dramani Mahama on April 15, 2026.
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Free primary healthcare in Ghana-all needed is any national ID and not NHIS
