Health & Education

The continuing implementation of expansive reforms, including the Single Spine Salary Structure and updates to the National Health Insurance Scheme aimed at providing universal health care, made 2012 a turbulent year for Ghana’s health sector. The Ministry of Health has seen its budget swell as the government attempts to address deficiencies in the sector, and remains committed to delivering universal health care through infrastructure upgrades and enhanced staff development. Although some indicators have been declining, the overall health of Ghanaians has improved in recent years, and seems set to continue on an upward trajectory into 2014. As the largest recipient of state funding in the country, the Ministry of Education (MoE) is tasked with transforming the country’s economy from resource- to knowledge-based and ensuring that graduates are prepared to enter the fast-changing workforce. The main focus of the MoE’s strategic plan for 2010-20 is to provide basic education to all children, bridge the gender and accessibility gaps, and emphasise science and technical education. This chapter contains interviews with Dr Pilar Mateo Herrero, President, Inesfly; and Ernest Aryeetey, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana.