Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana’s Minister-Designate for Health, and out-going Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority – Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye called on the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Thomas Oppong-Peprah at the General Headquarters.
The visit on Monday, 19 February 2024, was intended to discuss the collaboration between the NHIA, and the GAF and explore areas of further cooperation, to which end, Dr Okoe-Boye called for a greater partnership in health and medical issues, given the lessons learned from the recent global health crisis – the COVID-19 pandemic.
He assured the CDS of his commitment to cooperate with GAF to operationalize GAF health facilities across the country, and to transition them into functional facilities, and also commended GAF for the professional role the military played, as part government efforts in the fight against the COVID -19 pandemic.
He recalled GAF’s role in delivering essential medical stores and vaccines to hard-to-reach areas in Ghana, as well as transporting cases.
Hon Okoe-Boye also presented to the CDS, a book he has authored, which chronicles Ghana’s journey and experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic, whose foreword was written by the President, and Commander-in-Chief of GAF – His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Officially inviting General Oppong-Peprah to the launch of the book at the College of Physicians and Surgeons on Wednesday, 20 March 2024, Dr Okoe-Boye said, the book presents Ghana’s Strategy and approach to the pandemic and serves as a guide for future public health crisis.
The CDS, on his part, commended him and his outfit for the longstanding relationship between the NHIA and the military, adding that the Armed Forces has benefitted from some infrastructural and logistics support by him, and therefore, gave the assurance to strengthen their cooperation, lauding his predecessor – Vice Admiral Seth Amoama (Rtd) for the established collaboration.
Lt Gen Oppong-Peprah disclosed that efforts are underway to establish a Biomedical Unit in GAF, to deal with public health crisis that may occur in future, as part of the proactive measures learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic, and that the collaboration with the Ministry of Health would be imperative in the operations of the Biomed Unit, and capacity building for personnel.
