President John Dramani Mahama has announced the rollout of an Integrated Bed Management and Referral Coordination System (IBMRC) as part of efforts to tackle Ghana’s persistent ‘no-bed syndrome’ and improve emergency healthcare delivery.

The digital system, being piloted by the Ministry of Health, is expected to help hospitals and ambulance teams identify health facilities with available beds and the capacity to receive emergency patients, while facilitating faster referrals and transfers.

The pilot involves Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital at Ridge, the 37 Military Hospital, the University of Ghana Medical Centre and the National Ambulance Service.

Addressing the 68th Annual General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association, President Mahama stressed that tackling the no-bed syndrome required more than simply increasing the number of hospital beds.

“Normally, people say there is no bed, but it is not just about the bed. A bed becomes a place of care when trained professionals, functioning equipment, oxygen and essential supplies are available to provide the treatment a patient needs,” he said.

He explained that the new system would help address challenges associated with emergency referrals by providing information on the actual clinical capacity of receiving facilities.

President Mahama, however, acknowledged that better referral coordination must be accompanied by an expansion of emergency care infrastructure to enable hospitals to accommodate more patients.

He cited Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as an example, noting that although the facility has a functional bed capacity of 1,500, its Accident and Emergency Department has only 65 beds.

To address the gap, government is targeting emergency bed capacity equivalent to at least 10 per cent of each facility’s functional bed capacity.

At Korle Bu, this would require increasing emergency beds from the current 65 to at least 150.

President Mahama said work would begin next year on the expansion of Accident and Emergency Centres at Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye, Tamale Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital.

He added that the expansion would be supported with the necessary healthcare professionals, medical equipment, oxygen and essential supplies to ensure the additional beds become fully operational.

The President further announced that the Ghana Armed Forces Critical Care and Emergency Hospital was opening to the public, with the facility expected to begin receiving patients immediately.

He emphasised that hospitals must not turn away critically ill patients simply because they lack available beds, insisting that every emergency patient must first be assessed and assisted.

“When a patient arrives in critical condition, we cannot simply say, ‘No bed, no bed, go somewhere else.’ At the very least, the patient must be assessed. If the facility can provide stabilisation, it must do so before arranging a transfer to another hospital that can provide the required treatment,” he stated.

He said the new digital referral system would also help ensure that families receive clear information and guidance rather than being left to navigate the referral process on their own.

President Mahama maintained that the government’s broader healthcare reforms were aimed at building an emergency response system capable of providing timely, coordinated and effective care to patients across the country.

President John Dramani Mahama has warned health facilities against charging patients additional fees for services covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), insisting that institutions found engaging in the practice will face sanctions.

He said government would not tolerate situations where patients present their NHIS cards but are still required to make additional payments before receiving healthcare services.
Addressing the 68th Annual General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association, President Mahama disclosed that he had received complaints about some health facilities demanding extra payments from NHIS subscribers despite the services being covered by the scheme.

“I have received complaints that, despite patients presenting their NHIS cards, some facilities still demand money from them before providing services,” he stated.

He said the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) had begun monitoring exercises across health facilities to identify institutions engaging in the practice.

“The NHIA is conducting monitoring exercises from facility to facility. Any facility found charging patients additional fees outside the approved insurance arrangements will be dealt with,” President Mahama warned.

The President said the government was taking steps to strengthen the financial position of the NHIS to ensure that healthcare providers receive more predictable payments and can sustain services without placing additional financial burdens on patients.

He disclosed that the 2026 Budget allocated approximately GH¢11.3 billion in transfers to the National Health Insurance Fund, including GH¢2.26 billion for the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.

According to him, uncapping the NHIS Fund is helping to make financing more reliable, while the NHIA has introduced monthly payments for submitted and vetted claims by healthcare providers.

President Mahama also announced that service tariffs under the scheme had been increased by 50 per cent since August 2026, a move intended to improve the ability of health facilities to procure essential supplies and maintain quality healthcare delivery.

“These measures provide greater predictability for health facilities to procure supplies and sustain services to the public,” he said.
He stressed that protecting the improvements in healthcare financing would require continued vigilance against fraud, waste and abuse of the insurance system.

President Mahama further urged healthcare providers to ensure that resources allocated to the scheme are used responsibly and that patients receive the services to which they are entitled.

He said the government’s broader healthcare reforms, including Free Primary Healthcare, the uncapped NHIS and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, were designed to establish a more reliable healthcare system that reduces the financial burden on Ghanaians and improves access to quality medical services.

Government has acquired additional motorcycles for the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to support police escorts for Ayalolo buses operating on designated contra-flow routes in Accra, as authorities prepare for increased passenger movement during the Christmas season.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has handed over four dispatch motorcycles to the Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department to strengthen the operations of the Ayalolo Bus Service.

The motorcycles are expected to help address logistical challenges associated with providing escorts for buses using the contra-flow system, particularly during peak traffic periods.

Speaking at the presentation, Mr Ayariga explained that the number of Ayalolo trips would increase as Christmas approaches, requiring additional dispatch riders to lead the buses through traffic.

He said some routes operate three batches of bus movements, with each batch requiring a dedicated rider to provide escort and traffic support.

Government plans additional support vehicles

The Minister also disclosed that government was in the process of procuring marked pickup vehicles to support the exercise, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama.

The additional vehicles are expected to improve coordination and operational efficiency as the contra-flow service expands to accommodate more commuters.

Mr Ayariga expressed confidence that the logistical support would help minimise disruptions and improve the movement of buses along the designated routes.

Police to support peak-hour operations

The MTTD has been assigned riders to operate the newly acquired motorcycles and work with the Ayalolo team.

The Commanding Officer of the Accra Central MTTD, DCOP Prince Cobbinah, assured the Minister of the department’s commitment to improving traffic flow and reducing travel time for commuters.

Motorists have been urged to exercise caution and cooperate with traffic officers, particularly during the morning peak period of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and the evening period of 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Contra-flow arrangement targets congestion

The Ayalolo contra-flow initiative allows authorised buses to use designated sections of lanes normally serving traffic in the opposite direction during specified peak hours.

The arrangement initially covers the Amasaman–Accra, Adenta–Accra and Kasoa–Accra corridors.

Government says the intervention is intended to reduce journey times, improve the reliability of public transport and ease congestion on major roads leading into central Accra.

The acquisition of the motorcycles forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the Ayalolo service and encourage more commuters to rely on mass public transportation.

Ghana Bar Association President Efua Ghartey has cautioned newly enrolled lawyers against hiring videographers to film their first appearances in court, warning that the practice is prohibited and could attract disciplinary action.

The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Efua Ghartey, has warned newly qualified lawyers to desist from engaging videographers to record their entry into courtrooms as they begin their professional careers.

She expressed concern over the growing trend of young lawyers filming their maiden court appearances and sharing the videos on social media, stressing that such conduct was not permitted.

Speaking on the issue, Mrs Ghartey said the association had observed some newly enrolled lawyers documenting their first steps into court.

“We’ve seen some people take videos of their fresh legal steps into court. Please, it is not allowed. So please don’t find a videographer to follow you as you enter the courtroom. It is not allowed,” she cautioned.

GBA warns of possible disciplinary action

Mrs Ghartey acknowledged that senior members of the legal profession had welcomed the enthusiasm surrounding the newly enrolled lawyers but said some had crossed the boundaries of acceptable professional conduct.

“As seniors, we are enjoying what is going on, but some people have crossed the line, and we don’t want to start calling for disciplinary matters,” she said.

Her remarks serve as a warning that lawyers who disregard the association’s caution could face disciplinary consequences.

Growing trend among newly enrolled lawyers

The caution comes amid a wave of social media videos showing newly qualified lawyers making their first appearances in court while dressed in their wigs and gowns.

Some of the videos feature professionally arranged recordings of lawyers walking into court premises, with videographers capturing the moments for publication online.

The trend has attracted attention as young legal practitioners celebrate the beginning of their careers. However, the GBA President’s comments indicate that such celebrations must be conducted within the standards and expectations of the profession.

Upholding professional decorum

Mrs Ghartey’s warning reinforces the importance of maintaining professional discipline and respecting the rules governing conduct within court premises.

Her comments also highlight the responsibility of newly enrolled lawyers to balance personal milestones and social media visibility with the dignity expected of members of the legal profession.

The GBA has urged the new entrants to respect courtroom protocols and avoid practices that could bring them into conflict with professional disciplinary standards.

From a Ghanaian-American congressman to an Ethiopian-born Gen Z lawmaker and the son of Egyptian immigrants elected to the US Senate, politicians with African heritage have recorded notable victories in the 2026 US midterm elections.

The 2026 United States midterm elections have produced historic breakthroughs for several politicians with African roots, highlighting the growing influence of immigrant communities in American politics.

Among the prominent winners are 32-year-old Ghanaian-American Adrian Boafo, Ethiopian-born Melat Kiros, and Egyptian-American Abdul El-Sayed, whose victories have attracted attention across the African continent.

Ghanaian-American Adrian Boafo heads to Congress

Adrian Boafo, 32, has won Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, succeeding veteran Congressman Steny Hoyer, who retired after more than four decades in public office.

Born in Virginia and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Boafo is the son of Ghanaian immigrants. His political career began in local government, serving on the Bowie City Council before becoming a Maryland state delegate in 2023.

He also worked for Hoyer before contesting the congressional seat. His campaign focused on the cost of living, childcare and protecting federal workers.

Melat Kiros makes Gen Z history

At 29, Ethiopian-born Melat Kiros has become the first Generation Z woman elected to the US Congress.

Kiros moved to the United States as a baby and grew up in Denver, Colorado. Despite having no previous experience in elected office, she defeated a 15-term incumbent in the Democratic primary before securing victory in the general election.

Her campaign focused on the cost of living, universal childcare and healthcare. She has also drawn attention for her criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and her calls for changes to US immigration policy.

Abdul El-Sayed wins historic Senate seat

Abdul El-Sayed, 42, the son of Egyptian immigrants, has won Michigan’s Senate race, becoming the first Muslim American elected to the US Senate.

The former public health administrator campaigned on policies including universal healthcare, affordable housing and reducing corporate influence in politics.

His campaign also faced controversy over his Muslim identity and criticism of US military support for Israel.

Other African-rooted politicians record victories

Somali-born Ilhan Omar, 44, secured a fifth term in the US House of Representatives. First elected in 2018, she made history as the first Somali-American elected to Congress.

In Texas, 27-year-old Junior Ezeonu, who was born in Nigeria, won a seat in the State House after previously becoming Grand Prairie’s youngest city council member.

Pennsylvania legislator Carol Kazeem, 34, of Nigerian heritage, also retained her seat in District 159.

The victories have sparked conversations about political representation and the participation of younger generations in public leadership, with observers across Africa following the achievements of politicians whose family histories connect them to the continent