In a statement issued on Monday, February 16, the Agency described the circumstances surrounding the incident as deeply disturbing and indicated that the matter is being handled with utmost urgency.

According to HeFRA, it was alerted to reports suggesting that delays in accessing emergency treatment may have contributed to Mr Amissah’s death.

The Agency explained that under the Health Institutions and Facilities Act, 2011 (Act 829), it is mandated to regulate health institutions and ensure the delivery of quality and accessible healthcare services, including emergency care, nationwide.

“As the statutory regulatory body mandated by the Health Institutions and Facilities Act, 2011 (Act 829) to ensure the provision of quality and accessible healthcare in Ghana, the Agency has a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of healthcare provision including emergency response across all health facilities,” the statement noted.

HeFRA disclosed that a full-scale inquiry has already commenced to establish the facts and determine whether any regulatory breaches occurred.

The Agency assured the bereaved family and the public that the investigation would be thorough and transparent, adding that its findings would be communicated to the sector minister upon completion.

“The Agency assures the family of the deceased and the general public that investigations will be thorough and transparent,” it stated.

HeFRA further cautioned that appropriate sanctions would be imposed on any health facility found to have violated regulations governing emergency healthcare delivery.

“Meanwhile, HeFRA will not hesitate to sanction any health facility found to have violated any regulatory provision relating to emergency healthcare services,” the statement added.

The Agency also extended its condolences to the family of Mr Amissah, acknowledging the pain and grief caused by his passing.

“HeFRA extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr Charles Amissah during this difficult time,” the statement concluded.

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Read the full statement below:

Speaking at the 8th Annual General Congress of the Fertility Society of Ghana in Tema, Acting General Secretary of HeFRA, Dr. Winfred Korletey Baa, said the move is part of efforts to respond to the growing sophistication of Ghana’s health sector and fertility centres.

“The sophisticated state of the health sector and fertility centers across the country has forced us as regulators to set up a special tool to regulate that space,” Dr. Baa explained.

He added that the upcoming fertility licensing and inspection tool will introduce clear benchmarks for service delivery. The tool will address key issues such as data security, fertility preservation, and compliance with medical standards in both public and private facilities.

According to Dr Baa, the agency aims to ensure that facilities meet strict operational and ethical standards while safeguarding patient safety and trust.

The regulation of fertility clinics has become increasingly important as more Ghanaians turn to assisted reproductive services. Industry experts have raised concerns about the need for uniform standards, especially around technology use, patient confidentiality, and service quality.

HeFRA’s planned inspection tool is expected to be rolled out in phases, targeting both urban and rural health facilities.

The agency says the initiative will also support the government’s broader goal of improving healthcare quality and accountability in the country.

The Fertility Society’s annual congress brought together fertility specialists, health regulators, and policymakers to discuss best practices and strengthen collaboration within Ghana’s healthcare ecosystem.

Source: Myjoyonline

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This was in a statement issued and signed by the KMA’s Public Relations Officer, Henrietta A.K. Aboagye.

The Assembly explained that the facility, which was closed on Tuesday, October 14, had been reopened and was fully operational by Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

The Assembly attributed the brief closure to licensing-related issues, which it said had since been resolved through engagement between KMA and HeFRA.

“Management of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Metro Health Directorate wish to inform the general public that following the temporary closure of the KMA Clinic by the Health Facility Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) on Tuesday, 14th October 2025, the facility has since been reopened and fully operational as of Wednesday, 15th October 2025,” the statement read.

The KMA further reassured residents that it remained committed to upholding high standards in healthcare delivery across the metropolis.

“Management wishes to assure the public that it remains committed in providing quality and reliable health care services to the people of the metropolis,”
it stated.

The Assembly also apologised for the inconvenience the temporary closure might have caused, expressing gratitude to the public for their patience and understanding during the period.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience the temporary closure may have caused and appreciate the cooperation and understanding of all stakeholders,” the statement noted

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The closures followed an inspection tour of 20 facilities across the metropolis as part of HeFRA’s nationwide enforcement and compliance campaign.

According to the Director of Compliance and Enforcement, Agyeman Badu, several of the affected facilities had either failed to renew their operational licenses or were operating without proper certification required by law.

HeFRA officials emphasized that the exercise aims to ensure patient safety, professional accountability, and strict adherence to health regulations.

The Agency has warned that similar enforcement actions will be extended to other regions to clamp down on unlicensed health facilities across the country.

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The exercise, which began this morning, targets more than 200 clinics, laboratories, maternity homes, and other healthcare centres operating without proper authorisation from the regulatory agency.

According to HEFRA officials, the move forms part of a nationwide effort to ensure all health facilities meet the required operational standards and regulatory obligations.

Speaking to JoyNews, HeFRA’s Public Relations Officer, Christabel Ayiram, described the crackdown as a necessary step to protect public health and restore order in the sector.

“Both today and tomorrow, we are locking down facilities that are unlicensed. So any facility that is unlicensed by HEFRA, we are coming after you,” she said.

She explained that HeFRA is offering a short window of opportunity for operators to regularise their activities, urging those affected to report to the agency’s office in Kumasi for immediate assistance.

“We are advising those who are unlicensed that they should come to the HEFRA office. We are at Adum, opposite Opoku Trading. And then there’s a team on standby. Once you meet all the requirements, they’ll do an inspection,” Ms. Ayiram stated.

She added that because the operation is a special exercise, a dedicated inspection team has been set up to fast-track the licensing process.

“Because it’s a special exercise, we have a team on standby that will do the inspection for you. And once we do the inspection for you, and you meet our requirements, your facility will be open to the public. That is the only thing that will save anybody. Aside that, it is no license, no operations for our facility,” she added.

According to her, the agency’s data shows that over 200 health facilities in the Ashanti Region are currently unlicensed—all of which will face closure if they fail to comply.

“For the Ashanti region, the facilities that are not licensed—there are more than 200. And we’ll close all of them down. All of them. We are not even sparing one. So once you are not licensed, we are coming after you. So just come and get your license with HEFRA,” she warned.

Ms. Ayiram expressed concern about the rising number of unqualified dental operators, many of whom she said are practising without any professional training.

“Especially the dental facilities. Even though they don’t call themselves a clinic. Most of the people who practice in those facilities are not even like practitioners. I don’t even know how they… I think some of them claim they learnt on their job. Some of them claim their mothers taught them, their fathers taught them. And, I mean, these are people’s health. You don’t do that with people’s health,” she said.

She maintained that although HeFRA’s core mandate is regulation, the agency will not hesitate to take firm action against facilities that compromise public safety.

“So we are coming after all of them. So they should just come to HEFRA and do the right thing. We are regulators. We don’t take pleasure in locking down facilities. But where you are wrong, because it has to do with people’s health, we will take you on,” Ms. Ayiram emphasised.

Source: myjoyonline

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The enforcement operation, which started on Monday, October 6, 2025, is part of a national effort to promote quality and safe healthcare delivery.

It targets facilities with expired permits, unlicensed operations, or poor conditions deemed unsafe for patient care.

In a statement, HeFRA explained that the move supports its mandate to maintain healthcare standards and safeguard the public from unsafe and substandard medical practices.

The agency also noted that the exercise aligns with the Health Ministry’s ongoing reform programme under the government’s Resetting Agenda, led by Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. The broader initiative seeks to strengthen healthcare regulation and ensure that all service providers meet established quality benchmarks.

HeFRA further encouraged the public to seek care only from accredited facilities and reminded health operators that valid licenses must be visibly displayed at all times.

Source: Adomonline

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Read the full statement below:

The action, according to the agency, is part of a nationwide inspection aimed at identifying and sanctioning facilities operating without proper authorisation or documentation.

Speaking at a media briefing, the Chief Executive Officer of HeFRA, Dr. Winfred Baah, said the decision was taken to safeguard patients and ensure that only qualified facilities provide medical care.

“Some of these facilities have been particularly defiant. They’ve ignored administrative fines and failed to renew their licences. Once a facility becomes unlicensed, we cannot vouch for the competence of its staff or the safety of the equipment being used,” Dr. Baah stated.

He emphasised that operating outside the regulatory framework endangers lives, leaving the agency with no option but to close down non-compliant institutions.

“When that happens, we must step in to protect the public. HeFRA is currently restructuring to strengthen our ability to regulate health facilities effectively,” he added.

Dr. Baah reiterated the agency’s commitment to upholding quality healthcare standards and urged all health facility operators to adhere strictly to licensing and operational requirements to avoid closure or legal sanctions.

Source: Adomonline

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Out of the 14, seven are public and seven are privately owned.

The are the Riverwoods Medical Equipment and Dialysis Company, the Accra Kidney Clinic Limited, Sahel Health Ghana Limited, the Kidney Specialist Center LTD, Eastern Regional Hospital, Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital and Central Dialysis.

The rest are the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Maritime Hospital Ghana Limited, First Dialysis, Sage Medic Center, and Peace & Love Hospitals.

Eight of the facilities are in the Greater Accra Region, three are in the Ashanti, Northern has one, Eastern has one, and Western Region has another.

Dialysis is a treatment process that helps one’s body to remove extra fluid and waste products from the blood when the kidneys are not able to.

Patients require dialysis three sessions per week to have a normal life.

Ms Christabel Nuhoho, the Head of Public Relations, HeFRA, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the facilities mentioned were the ones licensed by HeFRA to operate dialysis services.

“We have some facilities that are registered, but yet to be licensed. It is also possible some are not known to us at all,” she added.

Ghana is said to have about 15,400 patients requiring dialysis.

Meanwhile, only about 1,195 people, representing 7.8 per cent of the estimated number, are receiving the life-saving treatment.

In spite of the high number of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or kidney failure patients in the country, according to Medpages online, a research platform, there are only 10 Nephrologists in the country.

A nephrologist is a doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating kidney conditions.

Ms Nuhoho explained that for a facility to acquire a license to operate dialysis services, it was expected to at least meet the minimum requirement of two dialysis machines, two dialysis beds, a water treatment plant, a BP apparatus per machine, and an emergency trolley with emergency drugs.

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This commendation was made by Dr. Philip Bannor during the inaugural SafeCare quality improvement awards ceremony, organized by PharmAccess Ghana and SafeCare in collaboration with HeFRA.

Dr. Bannor highlighted the significance of the partnership with SafeCare in advancing the agency’s efforts to reduce errors in care and promote high-quality healthcare services.

He stressed that such improvements would lead to a substantial reduction in hospital-acquired infections, misdiagnoses, and readmission rates.

The collaboration with SafeCare also grants HeFRA access to an international partner, further validating the accreditation of healthcare facilities under its purview.

Dr. Bannor applauded CHAG for its remarkable strides in enhancing healthcare quality through its participation in the SafeCare quality improvement program.

During the award ceremony, eight healthcare facilities and organizations were recognized for their notable progress in implementing systems and processes to drive improvement, along with seven individuals who demonstrated dedication to promoting and facilitating quality improvement in various healthcare networks in Ghana.

Among the awardees, Dr. James Duah, Deputy Executive Director for CHAG, received the prestigious SafeCare Personality of the Year award for the years 2021-2023.

Dr. Maxwell Akwasi Antwi, Country Director for PharmAccess Ghana, emphasized the critical importance of quality healthcare, citing data that revealed the alarming number of deaths caused by poor quality care in low to middle-income countries like Ghana.

Dr. Antwi underscored the urgency of adopting internationally recognized SafeCare Standards to enhance the quality of healthcare and reduce unnecessary deaths.

Dr. Peter Yeboah, Executive Director of CHAG, stressed the need for quality standards in the healthcare delivery system and celebrated the positive impact of the SafeCare program.

He highlighted the significant progress made by CHAG facilities in achieving SafeCare Level 4 ratings, indicating their alignment with global quality standards.

Dr. Yeboah expressed his commitment to sustaining the SafeCare quality improvement journey and enhancing Ghana’s healthcare system to meet global standards.

Overall, the awards ceremony recognized the collective efforts of various stakeholders in Ghana’s healthcare sector towards providing safer and higher quality care to patients.

The collaboration between HeFRA, CHAG, and SafeCare is seen as a crucial step in improving healthcare standards and achieving universal healthcare goals in the country.

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He said through strategic partnerships with international not-for-profit organizations like PharmAccess Group, HeFRA is working hard to finish the ‘decentralization journey’ making sure that the regional offices can provide support by monitoring other facilities in the region.

According to him, there are plans to continue improving the processes where he can, and looks forward to a continued partnership with PharmAccess.

PharmAccess, he said, is “strongly linked to healthcare standards, and access to quality care.”

According to Dr Bannor, PharmAccess engages and partners with the right stakeholders, helping HeFRA to achieve the strategic goal of access to quality of care in Ghana.”

The Registrar of HeFRA, Ghana’s healthcare regulatory body said when it comes to our health care, all people want to know is how and where we can receive the best possible care, but the absence of data to enable citizens to make informed health-seeking decisions is a source of worry.

According to him, the problem stems from the lack of a singular national system that assesses all health care providers through the same set of standards.

“This leaves citizens choosing their doctors based on advertisements rather than data,” he observed.

Dr Bannor and HeFRA need data. It is against this backdrop to help manage and collect that vital data, that HeFRA launched a Mobile Online Information System (MOIS).

Among other things, this platform collects and organizes information on every step of the inspection to license pipeline. 

Dr Bannor said he was dedicated and well-positioned, to address the problem thoroughly.

He said before opening a health facility in Ghana, HeFRA is required to carry out an inspection and provide a license, confirming the facility reaches acceptable safety and quality requirements.

HeFRA also inspects the availability of certified staff and ensures everyone who operates medical equipment has the necessary license.

HeFRA, therefore, plays a critical role in establishing a health system in Ghana that is well-functioning and safe for those that visit or work in health facilities.

“I don’t know where I would be without data,” said Dr Bannor.

“We would never want to go back to the slow, paper-based system of the past. Soon, HeFRA hopes to integrate information systems with other health and government agencies, further expanding its potential.

Whether you are dealing with diabetes, cardiac issues, or search for an obstetrician, Dr Bannor said, “you need access to objective information on where to find the true expert.”

Once this information becomes publicly available, Dr Bannor thinks competition will increase, and the level of care will improve alongside it. 

One area where we have already seen the value of data has been throughout the Covid crisis.

He said stakeholders in the health delivery value chain have already been surprised by some data insights.

For example, during the height of the pandemic in Ghana, authorities expected an increase in demand for hospital resources.

In reality, however, there was actually a decrease. HeFRA found through their collection of data that many people were avoiding or postponing visits to hospitals and clinics.

“That is why you need data to inform the government of what they need to do,” he explained.

Apart from digitalization, data collection, and access to information, HeFRA has worked vigorously to make the organization more efficient to reduce bottlenecks. 

HeFRA can potentially regulate over 13,000+ facilities in the country, and until a few years ago, much of the work and decision-making was concentrated between head office and a few smaller regional offices.

To improve the workflow, HeFRA opened additional regional offices and decentralized its decision-making process.

With more eyes and ears in the field, monitoring becomes better manageable, limited resources are spent more effectively, and communication lines are shortened.

Dr. Bannor also worked on formalizing and harmonizing assessment standards that were used by different health agencies in the country. 

PharmAccess supported this ‘efficiency journey’ with a detailed management review, evaluating whether management systems were performing as intended and producing the desired results as efficiently as possible.

“A tedious job, for which we are very thankful,” Dr Bannor said. 

Looking at the future, Dr Bannor said he hoped Ghana will soon be able to match its demand for health care with quality providers. 

“Imagine you are struggling with mental health issues and you feel that no one is taking care of you at a moment you really need it, it means you will lose the trust in the system,” he observed

To solve this, he said it was time to broaden the availability of care by giving more leeway to the private sector.

The HeFRA boss says “The private sector can fill a gap and help us, ensuring that people do not have to wait long to receive care. But evidently, quality assessments remain critical, and we need to assess private facilities with the same standards as used in the public sector.”

PharmAccess focuses on the root causes that hamper health care financing and investments towards equitable and quality health care in sub-Saharan Africa. Working as an innovator and catalyst for pragmatic solutions that can be adopted, adapted, and scaled by partners.

According to Dr Bannor, per the new standards of HeFRA, a hospital should have at least 40 beds and 3 doctors to be able to operate.

Speaking on Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM, he said the standard applies to existing hospitals when undertaking expansion.

Dr Bannor said his outfit’s doors are opened to all health institutions when the need arises.

“We give advice on what kind of machines are needed to help the running of the facility among others so you don’t fall short of the standards when we come for our annual monitoring,” he said.

He said some health facilities as well as laboratories have been closed down for operating without licenses and also running Covid-19 tests with substandard machines.

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HeFRA, according to Dr Bannor, regulates 45 categories of health facilities in the country, adding they are still open for more.