Strong team spirit building through civil society in Ghana

Posted on 15 December 2009

As part of MeTA civil society strengthening activities, a capacity strengthening workshop in Kumasi, Ghana took place on 8-11 November 2009. Representatives from twenty civil society orgnaisations based in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and the Eastern regions participated. The Ghana MeTA CSO core group members Charles Allotey, Ralph Ahiabu, Rita Ntoso worked with the four facilitators from the different regions to facilitate the workshop. Major topics covered included the National Health Insurance Scheme, access to medicines, medicines supply chain, medicine quality assurance and counterfeiting, patient charter, advocacy skills, communication, interview techniques, collaboration and networking.

Participants were enthusiastic about integrating the knowledge and skills learnt in their organisational outreach programmes and also building an effective regional body. One key outcome of the workshop was the formation of a regional core group who would form a strong coalition in the regions to engage with transparency and accountability processes at regional and district levels. This group will organise regional and community awareness raising activities to support efforts to improve access to medicines to citizens in Ghana.

Based on suggestions and discussions at the workshop three key lessons came out strongly:

1)    There is limited visibility of MeTA among health workers and the public and more awareness creation about MeTA is needed.

2)    There is very little information at health facilities. Information for the public could also be made available at health facilities so patients could access it during waiting times.

3)    There is great enthusiasm among health workers and civil society organisations when they hear about MeTA and its concept. This enthusiasm should be harnessed positively to disseminate more information.

This workshop was one of three taking place across Ghana. The Northern Zone held a workshop earlier in Tamale. The Southern zone is holding a workshop between 6-9 December. A mid-term review of activities will take place on the 27 January 2010 and organisers hope to launch communication materials and hold a press conference.

Health Action Network (HAN) is part of the MeTA civil society group in Ghana and hosts information about MeTA civil society activities. A full set of presentations and materials used will be made available soon, as attachments and on the HAN website.

MeTA Ghana website