Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea appointed as new Director-General of GHS

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea as the new Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), succeeding Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye’s tenure was marked by significant achievements, particularly in strengthening the health sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, Ghana became one of the most proactive nations in Africa, implementing mass testing, aggressive contact tracing, and timely policy responses. These efforts contributed to one of the lowest fatality rates in the region.

In addition to his pandemic response, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye led transformative reforms in areas such as maternal and child health, nutrition, and family planning. His dedication earned him both local and international recognition. He also focused on improving healthcare workers’ welfare, introducing policies to enhance their working conditions, and was honored as the Best Public Healthcare CEO at the Ghana CEO Summit. His efforts garnered further international accolades, including the prestigious Korean Prime Minister’s Citation.

At the official handover ceremony, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye thanked his colleagues and encouraged them to support Prof. Akoriyea, emphasizing the importance of teamwork.

Prof. Akoriyea’s appointment ushers in a new phase for the GHS, with high expectations for him to build on the solid foundation established by Dr. Kuma-Aboagye and continue advancing Ghana’s healthcare system.