We stand united with a shared purpose: to advance the healthcare sector of the West African sub-region. It is with immense pride that I commend the Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA) for their unwavering commitment to transforming healthcare delivery in our region.
My experience with HCOWA over the past year has shown me an organization determined to reshape the narrative of healthcare, and today, we gather to witness the fruits of that determination.
The healthcare sector in the West African sub-region, including Ghana, is in dire need of progress. Recognizing this, the Central Regional Coordinating Council has partnered with HCOWA to spearhead the development of our healthcare system. HCOWA’s mission to upgrade hospitals, clinics, and support medical professionals is both visionary and promising.
The goal of developing 10 hospitals, upgrading 50 clinics, and enhancing the skills of our medical doctors is a testament to the trust we have placed in HCOWA to reshape the healthcare landscape. At the Central Regional Coordinating Council, we are fully aware of the importance of developing the Central Region into a hub of healthcare excellence. With HCOWA’s support, I am confident that following this expo, our region’s hospitals will undergo significant upgrades, driving not just improvements in healthcare but also fostering economic benefits such as job creation and advanced skills acquisition.
Furthermore, I am pleased to learn that HCOWA is committed to providing advanced technical expertise to ensure that our medical equipment and devices remain in optimal condition. We are deeply grateful for this initiative and hope that HCOWA will continue to lead the charge in this effort.
The health industry, as HCOWA has rightly indicated, is a critical step in this direction. By developing more factories and production facilities within our region, we will not only meet our domestic health needs but also generate significant foreign earnings by exporting to other parts of West Africa and beyond.
The Central Region, with its strategic location and resources, is poised to become a hub for medical manufacturing. We must harness this potential to create a thriving ecosystem that supports the production of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and health technologies. This will not only strengthen our health sector but also drive economic growth, create jobs, and reduce our trade deficit.
Investing in industrial parks and manufacturing capabilities is not just about economic gains; it is about ensuring that we have the capacity to meet the healthcare needs of our people. It is about building resilience into our health system so that we are better prepared for future challenges. It is about laying the groundwork for a new era in healthcare, where West Africa is not just a consumer but a producer of world-class medical products.
The Central Regional Coordinating Council is committed to partnering with HCOWA and other stakeholders to make this vision a reality. We envision a future where the Central Region is recognized as a center of excellence for healthcare manufacturing, where our factories produce the tools and technologies that save lives, and where our people are empowered with the skills and opportunities to thrive in this burgeoning industry.
But this vision will only become a reality if we commit ourselves to the necessary investments. We must attract both local and foreign investors who share our vision and are willing to invest in the infrastructure, technology, and human capital needed to transform our health sector. We must also create an enabling environment that fosters innovation, supports entrepreneurship, and incentivizes the development of new health technologies.
In conclusion, as we move forward with the Investment Summit and Policy Park Introduction, let us remember that the decisions we make today will shape the future of healthcare in West Africa. Let us commit to investing in our health sector, not just for the economic benefits but for the health and well-being of our people. Let us work together to lay out a new track for the medical and health industry in West Africa—one that is built on the foundation of innovation, self-reliance, and sustainable growth.
Thank you.
Read by Mr. Serene Akpanya on behalf of the Central Regional Minister
