Sampa Nursing College Principal Calls for Accountability in Health Governance

The Principal of the Sampa College of Nursing and Midwifery, Albert Opoku, has called on health stakeholders to strengthen accountability and collaboration in the delivery of healthcare services at the district level.

He made the call while delivering remarks as Chairperson at the Annual Performance Review Meeting organised by the Jaman North District Health Directorate under the theme “Accountability in Health Governance.”

The event, held last Tuesday, brought together health professionals, administrators and other stakeholders to assess the performance of the district’s health sector over the past year. The meeting was attended by the Bono Regional Director of Health Services, Robert Bio, among other officials.

In his address, Mr. Opoku expressed gratitude for the opportunity to chair the programme and described the gathering as an important platform for reflection and planning in the health sector.

According to him, the review meeting was not merely a routine exercise but a strategic opportunity to evaluate the district’s health performance, identify challenges and develop practical solutions to improve service delivery.

He noted that healthcare remains a critical pillar of national development, stressing that a healthy population is essential for economic productivity and social progress.

Quoting former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Mr. Opoku emphasised that health should be regarded as a fundamental human right rather than a privilege accessible only to a few.

The Sampa Nursing College Principal explained that such review meetings allow stakeholders to evaluate key service indicators including maternal and child health outcomes, disease control interventions, and health financing and logistics systems.

He added that performance reviews in the health sector should not be seen as fault-finding exercises but rather as tools for tracking progress, promoting transparency and improving patient care.

Mr. Opoku further reaffirmed the commitment of the Sampa College of Nursing and Midwifery to supporting the district health system through the training of competent and ethical nurses and midwives.

He also highlighted the importance of collaboration between training institutions and health directorates in research and data-driven decision-making to strengthen healthcare delivery.

The Principal acknowledged persistent health challenges in the district, including maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy, malaria and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, urging stakeholders to remain focused and proactive.

“Behind every statistic is a life — a mother, a child and a family depending on the quality of care we provide,” he stated.

Touching on the theme of the meeting, Mr. Opoku stressed that accountability is particularly important at the district level where national health policies are implemented and directly affect communities.

He encouraged health workers to celebrate achievements such as improvements in immunisation coverage, skilled delivery services and disease surveillance, while also addressing areas that require improvement.

Mr. Opoku further urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration among health facilities, invest in capacity building for health workers, improve data management systems and deepen community engagement in healthcare delivery.

He concluded by reminding participants that the success of the district’s health system will depend on how well decisions taken at the review meeting are implemented, stressing that recommendations must be translated into concrete action to improve health outcomes in the district.