The move is aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the initiative and maintaining its impact beyond the programme's conclusion.

Ms. Jessica Fraser, the Technical Manager of Health Systems Strengthening at GHP, made the call during the closing of the GHWP learning and sharing event in Accra.

The GHWP, which began in late 2023 and is set to conclude in August 2025, focuses on strengthening Ghana's health workforce, enhancing health systems, and progressing toward Universal Health Coverage.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has projected a global shortage of 10 million health workers by 2030, with low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana, expected to be disproportionately affected.

Highlighting the critical role of health workers in ensuring effective health systems, GHP pointed out that shortages in health personnel exacerbated health inequities and negatively impacted health outcomes.

The event, organized by GHP in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), showcased the achievements of health partnerships to date and fostered discussions on the effectiveness and sustainability of interventions aimed at strengthening Ghana's health workforce and health systems.
Funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the GHWP has provided funding to 18 health partnerships in Ghana.

The programme focuses on initiatives aligned with national health workforce strengthening priorities, including innovative approaches to capacity building, improving access to quality education and training, and supporting health workers in underserved areas, particularly women and protected groups.

The initiative includes 18 distinct projects across Ghana and operates through partnerships with healthcare institutions from the UK, Kenya, and Nigeria.

Ms. Fraser said since the inception of the project in February 2024, 2,826 health workers had been trained in Ghana.

Of these, 1,155 are male, 1,366 are female, and 305 have not specified their gender.

The project has also provided leadership training to 256 health workers, delivered clinical skills training to 2,213 workers, and conducted intensive training on Gender, Equality, and Social Inclusion for 22 health workers.

Dr. James Antwi, Chair of the National Oversight Mechanism in Ghana, highlighted the significant progress made across the project's three key thematic areas: leadership and governance, health workforce motivation and retention strategies, and health workforce training and education.

He said that the project was progressing well but acknowledged challenges related to international partnerships, particularly communication difficulties during implementation.

Dr. Antwi noted that as the project moved forward, new priority areas for health workforce improvement had been identified.

"These initiatives include stroke management, childhood epilepsy programmes, telemedicine, nursing revalidation processes, and health workforce well-being research conducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Association.

Dr. Antwi also confirmed that the UK Department of Health was prepared to provide funding for an extension if necessary.
He appealed to the government to ensure the continuity of various initiatives as the event marked the project's end. The project has also offered leadership training to 256 health workers, delivered clinical skills to 2,213 health workers, and provided intensive training on Gender, Equality, and social inclusion to 22 health workers.

Mrs. Perpetual Ofori Ampofo, President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), commended GHP for the initiative and revealed that the Association was running a similar project focused on health workforce retention and motivation.

She explained that the GRNMA's project aimed to support healthcare workers placed in local, rural, and underserved areas by providing incentives to encourage them to remain in their posts and continue delivering care to communities.