Appointments Committee: Mintah Akandoh enjoys brief vetting
The vetting of Health Minister nominee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh lasted less than 30 minutes on Friday, January 31, making it the second shortest vetting session for ministerial nominees under President John Mahama.
Unlike the over-five-hour grilling of Ningo-Prampram MP Sam George on Wednesday, Akandoh faced only three questions from the Majority Leader before the session was ended .
During the vetting, Mr. Akandoh revealed his extensive involvement in agriculture, stressed on Ghana’s potential for food self-sufficiency.
He disclosed that he began farming with cocoa before expanding into rice cultivation.
“I started with 150 acres of rice farming in the Western North Region, and this year, I am cultivating no less than 5,000 acres,” he stated. He also revealed investments in three rice processing machines located across the country, including in Sumiya and East Tamale, aimed at boosting local rice production and reducing import dependence.
Balancing business and public service
Responding to concerns about his private business interests, Mr. Akandoh acknowledged the challenge of balancing entrepreneurship with public service but reaffirmed his commitment to national duty.
“This appointment is an opportunity to serve my country,” he said. While he remains a director of his company, he assured the committee that its operations would be independent of his ministerial responsibilities.
NHIS and health financing
Addressing concerns about the NHIS, Mr. Akandoh assured the committee that he would assess the financial health of the scheme upon assuming office.
He also acknowledged disparities in access to healthcare under the NHIS and promised to review provisions in the Act to enhance service delivery.
Tackling health sector unemployment
The nominee admitted that unemployment among health professionals remains a significant challenge, largely due to government wage constraints.
To address this, he proposed facilitating the migration of Ghanaian health workers to countries where their services are in high demand.
“There is a need for us to think outside the box. I will engage with other countries to establish structured pathways for the employment of Ghanaian health professionals,” he explained.
Commitment to contract reviews
Mr. Akandoh pledged to review contracts within the health sector, including agreements related to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and ambulance services. However, he clarified that he would not arbitrarily terminate contracts.
“We all know the private sector is the engine of growth, and I am not prepared to capriciously terminate any contract,” he stated. “But if there are issues with any agreement, I will ensure a thorough review.”
Regarding the controversial ambulance maintenance contract, he noted that the $7.2 million agreement covering 307 ambulances would be assessed for efficiency and accountability.