MHA beats HeFRA 1:0 in fraternity football match (videos)

Mental Health Authority (MHA) has won fraternity football match against HeFRA after it scored Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) 1: 0 last-minute goal in the competition of its kind that took place at Accra Academy on Saturday. Both MHA and HeFRA succer teams put up tactical and splendid performances, holding grounds against each other until getting to the tail end of the game saw a goal from MHA, making them the winner of the competition.

Dr. Caroline .R. Amissah, Deputy CEO of Mental Health Authority tactically warming up ahead of the match

Prof. Akwasi Osei, CEO of Mental Health Authority during the match

Health Institutions and Facilities Act, 2011 (Act 829) established the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) in PART ONE of the Act to license facilities for the provision of public and private health care services. Apart from licensing, the agency is to monitor facilities for the provision of public and private health care services.

Known as HeFRA, HeFRA’s mandate is from the Health Institutions and Facilities Act, 2011 (Act 829) Section 11 (1 and 2) which states that a person shall not operate a facility unless the facility is licensed under this Act. A person shall not operate equipment in a facility specified in the first schedule unless the facility in which the person operates is licensed under this Act.

Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) Succer Team after the game.

Both Mental Health Authority (MHA) and Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) relocated to the old premises of the Health Ministry, coupled with other agencies under the ministry currently operating from the same premises.

Mental Health Authority (MHA) Succer  Team warming up head of the match

Speaking on the sidelines of the fraternity football competition between Mental Health Authority (MHA)and Health Facilities and Regulatory Authority (HeFRA), held at Accra Academy on Saturday 9 July 2022, CEO of MHA Prof. Akwasi Osei urged various Ministries, Departments and Agencies to quarterly organise fraternity football matches to have fun whilst improving their health status.

Prof. Akwasi Osei noted that “This is both fun and exercise match and we thought that this is an opportunity to fraternise as two agencies within the same premises, exercise and have fan and reduce stress “.

The fraternity succer game is the first of its kind, expected to be organised quarterly to improve health outcomes and status of personnel.

According to Prof. Akwasi Osei, “As it proves successful, we’ll look at playing it not only between the two agencies but involve other agencies under Ministry of Health refers to as inter-agency succer matches perhaps quarterly. Health is good, there is no wealth without health, health depends on exercising the body, as you exercises, you maintain your health and create wealth for yourself, the community. Will encourage various agencies under the Health Ministry to organise and embark on health exercises, once you play succer, it exercise all aspects of your body, your mind physically and mentally, I encourage all to do exercises”.

Mental Health Authority has been on the forefront of leading advocacy, asking government to immediately scale up its investment in mental health to reap the desired results. Ghana spends just 1.4% of total government health expenditure on mental health and so the burden of mental ill health continues to grow, with serious consequences for the country’s economic and social development.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health Authority Dr. Caroline R. Amissah said “As you may know, the Ministry of Health relocated to a new premise and agencies of the ministry were given the old premises to occupy. Apart health benefits, the game seeks to deepen relationship between the two agencies. For us exercise, relaxation and recreation is very good for our mental health after working a whole week. This is the maiden match, and in future we can institute it as quarterly succer match where winner can be given medals…it’s good for our own physically and mental health”.

Watch the videos:

Below are exclusive pictures from the competition held at Accra Academy: