Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South and Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Kingsley Agyeman, has urged Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to significantly increase the country’s health sector budget.
In an interview on AbusuaNkommo, broadcast on AbusuaFm and hosted by Kojo Marfo, Dr. Agyeman expressed concern that the current health budget allocation of GH₵16.2 billion is grossly inadequate.
He emphasized that Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has ambitious plans for transforming Ghana’s health sector but needs sufficient financial support to realize these goals.
Dr. Agyeman appealed directly to Finance Minister Forson, describing him as a “senior brother” and asking for his intervention to raise the health budget.
He stated, “Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has a lot to achieve and a lot of vision, but without adequate funding, those dreams cannot come to fruition. We plead with our senior brother, Ato Forson, to provide the necessary resources for the Health Ministry to succeed.”
Highlighting the frustrations behind every health workers’ agitations, Dr. Agyeman clarified that these disputes are fundamentally about funding, which lies outside the control of the Health Minister.
“All health workers’ agitation stems from money issues, but the funds are not controlled by Akandoh. Therefore, Hon. Ato Forson, if you can intervene and allocate more budget to the health sector, it would greatly empower your brother, Minister Akandoh, to deliver impactful results.”
The MP stressed that improving Ghana’s health system would benefit the entire country and called on the Finance Ministry to show greater commitment by boosting the health budget substantially.
He noted, “Ghanaians are looking up to you, Hon. Forson, to increase the Health budget, because what has been allocated is nothing to write home about. It is disgraceful not to put enough resources into healthcare. If the system improves, everyone benefits.”
“So, please, Hon. Ato Forson, if they say you are forcing, then force for your brother Akandoh as well,” he remarked.
Source: www.Kumasimail
