HESEMAG opens 16th annual general meeting and CPD programme in Koforidua to strengthen healthcare infrastructure maintenance

The Health Estate Managers Association of Ghana (HESEMAG) has opened its three-day Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme and 16th annual general meeting in Koforidua, aimed at enhancing healthcare infrastructure and maintenance systems across the country.

The event, held under the theme “Resetting Healthcare Delivery System in Ghana, the Role of the Health Estate Professional,” focuses on upgrading the skills of health estate managers to meet modern healthcare demands.

Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Mr. Allen Seth Anku, Deputy Director of Administration, emphasized that continuous training in Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) was vital to ensuring efficiency and sustainability in healthcare delivery. He noted that government efforts toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) include free primary healthcare, infrastructure development, and initiatives such as MahamaCare, all of which require proper maintenance to protect national investments.

Mr. Anku described the CPD programme as “very appropriate and timely,” assuring participants that issues relating to resource constraints and occupational risks would be addressed.

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In his remarks, Mr. Raymond Abraham Amoh, National President of HESEMAG, said the association, established in 2001 with only a few members, now has over 100 professionals nationwide. He outlined their core responsibilities, which include land administration, asset management, civil works, and maintenance, stressing that estate professionals play a crucial yet often overlooked role in the health sector.

“Behind every successful delivery or surgery in a health facility, there is an estate professional who provided the infrastructure and utilities for clinical professionals to work,” he stated.

Mr. Amoh appealed for salary adjustments, noting that estate professionals earn among the lowest salaries in the health sector despite their qualifications. He also urged the government to grant them free healthcare access, acknowledging their essential contribution to national health delivery.

Addressing land encroachment, Mr. Amoh commended traditional authorities for supporting the expansion of health infrastructure but cautioned individuals against encroaching on lands reserved for health projects, warning that such actions hinder development.

Mr. Gerald Asakea, Deputy Director of Estate Management at the GHS, expressed concern over inadequate staffing, revealing that over 9,000 health facilities are managed by a limited number of estate managers. He called on the Director-General to employ additional personnel to enhance service delivery and maintenance efficiency.

The meeting reaffirmed the critical role of health estate professionals in sustaining healthcare infrastructure and called for better working conditions, improved remuneration, and increased staffing to ensure effective maintenance across Ghana’s health facilities.