Another Medical Trip, Same Old Debate: Ghana’s Healthcare at a Crossroads

Once again, Ghana is confronted with the stark reality of its struggling healthcare system, as a high-ranking political figure reportedly seeks medical treatment abroad.

Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, a Public Health and Democracy and Development Fellow at CDD-Ghana, has weighed in on this recurring issue, highlighting the deep-seated inequities in the country’s healthcare sector.

According to Dr. Sarpong, the Vice President’s reported illness and subsequent decision to seek treatment outside Ghana is neither surprising nor unprecedented.

“This is neither the first nor will it be the last time that a high-ranking member of Ghana’s political class turns to foreign healthcare in times of crisis. Each time it happens, we are reminded—painfully—of the state of our own health system and the glaring inequities within it.”

The reliance of Ghana’s political elite on foreign medical care is a damning indictment of the country’s healthcare system.

Despite years of promises and policies aimed at improving local medical facilities, high-ranking officials seem to have little faith in the system they oversee.

“There have been calls, including from members of government like the Foreign Minister, for a ban on such state-sponsored medical tourism. The argument is simple: if our leaders were forced to rely on the same healthcare system as ordinary Ghanaians, they would have a vested interest in improving it.”

However, Dr. Sarpong challenged the practicality of an outright ban, noting that even those in leadership acknowledge the inadequacies of Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure.

He argued that the very system they oversee fails to inspire confidence, even among its own architects.

 

A National Debate With No Progress:

The latest case of a government official seeking medical treatment abroad has reignited discussions about Ghana’s struggling healthcare system.

However, Dr. Asiedu Sarpong argued that the persistence of this debate highlights a deeper issue—the country’s failure to build a healthcare system that serves all citizens equitably.

He questioned why this conversation keeps resurfacing, emphasizing that it reflects the lack of meaningful progress in healthcare development.

Decades into the Fourth Republic, Ghana still cannot guarantee life-saving medical care for the average citizen.

While government officials can access treatment abroad, ordinary Ghanaians facing medical emergencies are left with limited options—under-resourced hospitals, inadequate specialized care, and no alternatives beyond the country’s borders. The system, he argued, continues to fail those who need it most.

As the conversation around state-sponsored medical tourism unfolds, partisanship continues to taint meaningful discourse.

Accordingly, Dr. Sarpong observes how political actors shift their stance on the issue based on who is in power.

“There are those who, just a few years ago, passionately defended the medical trips of a former Vice President but today see this as karma and vindication of their position. Likewise, there are those who were outraged when a former Vice President sought treatment abroad but now attempt to silence journalists and well-meaning citizens who dare to ask valid questions.

“This hypocrisy is part of why nothing ever changes. We reduce life-and-death issues to political football, shifting our stance depending on who is in power rather than standing on principle.”

Dr. Sarpong stressed that healthcare should be treated as a national priority rather than a partisan issue, as it affects all citizens regardless of political affiliation.

He highlighted that when the healthcare system fails, it impacts everyone—whether they support the NPP, NDC, or have no political allegiance.

True progress, he argued, will only come when Ghanaians demand better healthcare, not for political advantage but for the collective good of the nation.

 

Leadership To Take Responsibility:

Beyond the endless debates and political back-and-forth, the fundamental question remains: Why has Ghana’s leadership repeatedly failed to prioritize healthcare infrastructure?

“How did we get here? Why has successive leadership failed to invest in world-class healthcare infrastructure that would reduce the need for such desperate measures? How do we move beyond rhetoric and enact real policies that ensure medical excellence is available within our borders?”

For Dr. Sarpong, every case of a government official seeking medical treatment abroad is a glaring indictment of leadership failure.

He argued that such actions expose the government’s inability to build a healthcare system that even its own members can rely on.

According to him, if those in power do not trust the system with their lives, he questioned how ordinary Ghanaians are expected to have confidence in it.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s healthcare crisis is not new, and without serious reforms, the situation will only worsen.

As such, Dr. Sarpong called for sober reflection and urgent action to fix the system, rather than continued reliance on foreign hospitals for the privileged few.

“This is a moment for sober reflection. Healthcare should not be a privilege for a select few; it should be a fundamental right guaranteed by a system that is robust, well-resourced, and capable of meeting the needs of all citizens—not just in rhetoric but in practice.”

As the Vice President receives treatment abroad, Dr. Sarpong wishes her a swift recovery but urged Ghanaians to reflect on the broader issue.

He emphasized that while she has access to medical care overseas, many ordinary Ghanaians facing critical illnesses do not have the same option. That, he stressed, is the real crisis that needs urgent attention.

Ghana’s healthcare crisis is a reflection of decades of neglect, where only the political elite can escape its failures while ordinary citizens are left to suffer.

Until leaders prioritize systemic reforms over personal convenience, this cycle of medical exile will remain a tragic indictment of governance.