Ghana's Ministry of Finance has identified the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) as a crucial partner for sustaining healthcare delivery. This partnership becomes more vital as the nation faces declining donor support and increased pressure to self-finance its health priorities, with these changes expected by 2026.
Dr. Theo Acheampong, Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Finance, made these remarks on behalf of Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. He spoke at the 2026 CHAG Annual Conference in Koforidua. The evolving global financial landscape necessitates stronger collaboration among the government, CHAG, and the private sector. Ghana can no longer heavily depend on external development financing to fund essential healthcare services, as overseas development support is becoming increasingly constrained.
This shift aligns with Ghana's broader economic strategy to enhance domestic systems and improve public financing. The nation aims to achieve greater efficiency, careful prioritization, and stronger accountability in its financial management. Ghana has been working to reduce its reliance on foreign aid for several years, seeking to become more self-sufficient. This move also connects to efforts to stabilize the cedi and reduce external debt.
Dr. Acheampong stated, "Beyond public financing, we must also recognise that the global financing environment is changing." He added, "Development assistance is becoming increasingly constrained, and Ghana is already experiencing the effects of declining overseas development support." This reduction means Ghana must increasingly finance its development priorities domestically. The government is actively pursuing innovative approaches beyond traditional public financing to ensure the health system's long-term sustainability.
The future of healthcare financing will increasingly depend on innovative instruments and robust public-private partnerships. Greater mobilization of private capital will complement government investments. CHAG, with its nationwide network of 375 health facilities, is considered an indispensable partner in this strategy. Its operations span all 16 regions, providing between 30 and 40 percent of healthcare services nationwide. The organization serves 8 to 10 million patients annually, especially in rural and underserved communities.
The Ministry of Finance has pledged that CHAG facilities will receive their fair share of equipment and infrastructure investments under the Free Primary Health Care programme. The government also continues reforms to strengthen the financial sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Parliament has approved GHS 10.7 billion for the NHIS in 2025, including GHS 6.5 billion for provider claims. This represents one of the strongest commitments to health provider payments in recent years, demonstrating ongoing governmental financial backing for healthcare infrastructure.