The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), describing the faith-based network as an indispensable pillar in the country’s healthcare system.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Staff at the opening of the 2025 CHAG Annual Conference in Koforidua, Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah said the longstanding collaboration between the church and the state remains essential to achieving equitable healthcare delivery across the country.
He noted that CHAG contributes nearly one-third of healthcare services in Ghana, particularly in remote and underserved areas, describing the partnership as one of the nation’s “quiet success stories”.
Mr. Debrah indicated that Christian institutions played a foundational role in Ghana’s health system long before the establishment of the Ministry of Health, building mission hospitals, clinics and training schools that treated both the body and spirit.
“Mission hospitals did not just provide medicine; they provided ministry,” he said. “Your work has given meaning to the national goal of ‘health for all’ and has proven that faith-based values and public policy can work hand-in-hand to uplift lives,” he said.
The Chief of Staff assured CHAG of continued collaboration through resource allocation, policy support and capacity building, adding that the government views CHAG as a strategic partner in the implementation of key national health policies, including the Free Primary Healthcare Programme aimed at removing cost barriers for essential services.
“This programme will ensure that no mother dies in childbirth because she couldn’t afford a consultation, and no elderly person is turned away because their pension couldn’t cover their prescription. And here is where CHAG comes in – your facilities are embedded in communities, and your ethos aligns with service without discrimination.”
The Chief of Staff emphasised that the vision is not simply to expand facilities but to build a system anchored in compassion, dignity and accountability.
He said the journey toward Universal Health Coverage by 2030 cannot be achieved without CHAG’s continued leadership and presence in rural communities.
Mr. Debrah stressed that strengthening moral and ethical foundations is as vital as investing in infrastructure or technology. He encouraged CHAG institutions to maintain their reputation for integrity, transparency, and service rooted in Christian compassion.
“A resilient health system is not built by equipment alone; it is built by people of integrity, institutions of trust, and values that endure,” he remarked, urging faith-based institutions to remain beacons of ethical leadership in the health sector.
He also underscored the importance of shaping the next generation of health professionals who combine technical competence with genuine compassion, saying CHAG’s identity “is not a label but a light.”
While acknowledging the impact of modern technology and changing social dynamics on healthcare, he called for maintaining CHAG’s spiritual foundation. He encouraged the organisation to continue leading outreach programmes, early-detection health campaigns, and community-focused interventions that blend technical skill with human connection.
Looking ahead, Mr. Debrah urged CHAG and the government to stay united in their mission, noting that achieving national health outcomes will demand shared responsibility, empathy and resilience.
“Let CHAG continue to be the moral compass of healthcare delivery – where service meets sacrifice, where healing meets holiness, and where compassion transforms communities.”
He commended CHAG for its unwavering role in Ghana’s healthcare landscape and encouraged the association to continue shining its light in service to the nation.