The African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) has called for a stronger role for the media in amplifying community concerns and promoting accountability in Ghana’s health sector.
According to AMMREN, the media remains a powerful tool for ensuring that the concerns and experiences of community members are brought to the attention of health authorities and policymakers.
The Network is implementing a Community Scorecard Project in partnership with the Ghana Health Service, with funding support from Expertise France.
The project provides a platform for community members and health facility staff to jointly assess the quality of health services, identify gaps and agree on practical solutions to improve service delivery.
Speaking during a Zoom engagement with journalists on the Community Scorecard Project on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Executive Secretary of AMMREN, Dr. Charity Binka, stressed the critical role of the media in strengthening community participation and accountability in healthcare delivery.
Dr. Binka said improving health services requires not only effective systems but also access to accurate information, effective communication, and sustained public engagement.
She expressed appreciation to partners, including the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), Hope for Future Generation (HFFG), and the West Africa Program to Combat AIDS and STIs (WAPCAS), for their support and participation in the initiative.
Dr. Binka reaffirmed AMMREN’s commitment to bridging the gap between health research, policy, communities and the media.
She noted that informed communities, engaged health workers and well-equipped journalists are essential to building responsive and accountable health systems.
Delivering the keynote address, Director of the relevant Division of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel K. Boakye-Boateng, described the media as a vital bridge connecting communities, health managers, policymakers and the wider public.
He pledged that the Ghana Health Service would continue to engage openly with the media, share evidence and communicate health-sector challenges transparently.
A presentation at the engagement revealed that the four-year project has so far trained 80 regional facilitators and 52 journalists.
It also indicated that 685 out of the targeted 1,850 CHPS zones and 47 of the 135 district hospitals have been trained under the project.
However, the initiative continues to face challenges, including inconsistent quarterly reporting and delays in the release of funds.
By Samuel Yaw Aboagye
