By Hannah Dadzie and Vanessa Acheampong
The British High Commission has launched the UK-Ghana Healthcare Roadshow in Accra. The week-long trade mission, scheduled for March 17 to 22, aims to foster partnerships to support Ghana’s healthcare transformation. The event will provide an opportunity for healthcare stakeholders from the UK and Ghana to explore collaboration in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, healthcare infrastructure, and digital health solutions.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy British High Commissioner Keith McMahon emphasized the UK’s commitment to deepening trade and investment in Ghana’s healthcare sector.
The UK and Ghana currently enjoy €1.6 billion in annual bilateral trade, with healthcare playing a significant role. The UK-Ghana Healthcare Roadshow seeks to unlock new trade partnerships that will boost healthcare delivery, create jobs, and drive economic growth in both countries. It also presents an opportunity for Ghana to attract investment in its pharmaceutical manufacturing sector and healthcare infrastructure, aligning with its vision of becoming a regional hub for medical services.
Deputy British High Commissioner Keith McMahon highlighted ongoing collaborations, including partnerships between NHS England and Ghana’s National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), as well as the UK Jobs and Economic Transformation (JET) Program, which has played a crucial role in developing Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector. Mr. McMahon encouraged Ghanaian delegates to leverage the roadshow to explore innovative healthcare solutions and foster new business opportunities.
“We want to see trade grow even further, and the healthcare sector offers a great opportunity to do this. Through the roadshow, Ghanaian delegates will witness the UK’s expertise in engineering, biology, digital health, and medical technology, creating room for more partnerships,” Mr. McMahon said.
A representative from the Ministry of Health at the National Centre for Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism, Dr. Ernest Konadu Asiedu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system. He outlined Ghana’s key priorities, including tackling public health emergencies and pandemic preparedness, expanding healthcare infrastructure, promoting herbal, traditional, and alternative medicine, and strengthening human resource development in the sector.
“The partnership with the UK has been instrumental in improving Ghana’s healthcare system. From universal health coverage to mental health integration, the UK’s support has been invaluable,” Dr. Asiedu noted.
The roadshow is expected to further bolster existing collaborations, including the University of Ghana’s partnership with Imperial College London, which focuses on public health research and innovative malaria detection methods.
Roundtable Discussion
The UK’s Department for Business and Trade hosted a roundtable discussion that brought together leading public and private stakeholders within the healthcare community to explore ways to leverage the UK-Ghana partnership to enhance healthcare delivery in Ghana.
In his opening remarks, the Development Director of the British High Commission, Richard Sandall, highlighted existing UK-Ghana partnerships and reassured the UK’s commitment to working with Ghana in key areas of its healthcare sector that will benefit most from UK technology and expertise.
Notable participants at the roundtable included the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Dr. Delese Mimi Darko; the Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute, Professor William Ampofo; the Chief Transformation Officer of Nyaho Healthcare Limited, Dr. Elikem Tamaklo; the Medical Director at the Accra Regional Hospital, Dr. Ralph Armah; and the Healthcare Sector Director for Africa at the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, Heyn Van Royen. Also in attendance was Dr. Ernest Konadu Asiedu, the Ministry of Health representative at the National Centre for Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism, who represented the Minister of Health.
As the delegation prepares for the UK mission, stakeholders remain optimistic that the roadshow will pave the way for stronger UK-Ghana healthcare collaborations that will enhance healthcare service delivery and innovation in Ghana.
