The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) has inaugurated its state-of-the-art SafeCare Hub in Accra, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at improving the quality of healthcare for millions of Ghanaians.

This facility symbolises CHAG’s dedication to delivering patient-centered care while addressing critical gaps in healthcare safety and quality.

Serving over eight million Ghanaians annually through its network of health facilities, CHAG's SafeCare Hub will function as a center for training, research, and promoting safe healthcare practices. The Hub aims to consolidate the organisation’s achievements under the SafeCare initiative and sustain improvements in healthcare delivery.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Executive Director of CHAG, Dr. Peter Yeboah, described the facility as a beacon of hope for healthcare improvement in Ghana.

“For many Ghanaians, healthcare is not just about access - it is about safety and dignity. This hub is a bold step toward ensuring that every individual receives the care they deserve,” he said.

Dr. Yeboah reflected on the milestones achieved through the SafeCare initiative over the past five years.

“It’s been five years of piloting SafeCare, and we have a lot to celebrate. With our 28 internationally certified assessors, all CHAG facilities have gone through the SafeCare Assessment Process. We have recorded a 91% improvement in overall quality of care in all CHAG facilities. Gladly, 70% of CHAG facilities have transitioned from one level to another - from Level 1 to Level 4.

"When SafeCare began in 2019, we only had four facilities at Level 4. I am glad to announce that today, 39 CHAG facilities are now SafeCare Level 4 - just one point shy of the ultimate milestone.”

Dr. Yeboah emphasised the need for consolidation and sustainability:

“We must consolidate our achievements at all levels. It is time to set up functional structures and systems to embed and embrace the SafeCare culture so that SafeCare will become part and parcel of the entire system. That is why you see this monumental edifice. This edifice, christened the CHAG-SafeCare Hub, demonstrates our leadership and stewardship responsibilities in safeguarding and hosting SafeCare to its success and sustainability.”

He added, “This facility is an expression of our commitment to championing and fostering the SafeCare quality improvement program as an integral part of the CHAG portfolio. It will serve as a sanctuary of excellence for targeted training, teaching, learning, safe care monitoring, data-driven resource allocation, and research in health quality and safety. This is the building we celebrate today.”

The Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PPME) at the Ministry of Health, Emma Ofori Agyemang, commended CHAG for its exceptional leadership in healthcare and assured government support for its operations. She revealed a substantial financial commitment to CHAG’s operations in 2025.

“CHAG has become a beacon of hope in our healthcare system. The government is proud to support this vision and ensure that no Ghanaian is left behind in accessing quality healthcare,” she stated.

She added, “It is actually refreshing to know that all CHAG facilities in Ghana have gone through the quality assurance assessment. I think that is very impressive, and 39 of them are at Level 4. This is very commendable.”

However, she acknowledged challenges in the sector:

“I sincerely admit, though very apologetically, that there are huge gaps in quality standards. The last quality forum held in Accra raised a lot of issues and concerns about the trajectory of maintaining a sustainable and quality path in healthcare service delivery. This is anchored on a dedicated workforce that is eager and committed to patient satisfaction, adherence to quality and safety protocols, and constant supervision to ensure improvement. These requirements cannot be taken for granted.

“I commend you and your dedicated workforce, who have worked tirelessly in remote and hard-to-reach areas to provide healthcare to the people of Ghana. Indeed, I urge you to keep your brand and protect it always. Your brand is quality, and I wish that you protect it.”

She revealed significant financial backing, adding, “In 2024, the government of Ghana invested about GHS1 billion towards CHAG compensation. Going forward in 2025, we have projected to invest GHS2.2 billion in CHAG’s human resource development, and out of this amount, I’m proud to say that over GHS110 million is proposed for the recruitment of new staff.”

The CEO of PharmAccess, Dr. Nicole Spieker, highlighted the global importance of initiatives like SafeCare in addressing healthcare deficiencies.

“Globally, three million people die annually due to lack of access to care, while five million die because of poor-quality care. Ghana, through CHAG, is emerging as a leader on the continent in achieving universal health coverage,” she said.

On his part, the Auxiliary Bishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Kobina Louis, reaffirmed the Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference's commitment to the SafeCare programme and the enduring partnership between the church and the state in healthcare delivery. Speaking at the commissioning of the CHAG-SafeCare Hub in Accra, Bishop Louis commended the initiative for its transformative impact on healthcare in underserved communities.

"As a founding member of CHAG, the Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference is proud to be part of the SafeCare journey and commend all efforts at bringing health and healing to the greatest number of people in our country, especially the unreached, the underserved, and the poorly served segment of the population," he stated.

He highlighted the significance of the SafeCare programme in fostering a culture of quality and safety in healthcare within the CHAG network and Catholic Health Services Trust Facilities.

"We are delighted, therefore, that this programme is strengthening the culture of healthcare quality and safety within the CHAG network and the Catholic Health Services Trust Facilities. The programme is also protecting health facilities from avoidable adverse consequences, such as financial damages associated with medical legal cases, by adhering to high standards," he explained.

Bishop Louis emphasised the enduring partnership between the state and the church, underscoring their shared responsibility in ensuring the health of the nation. He called for equitable distribution of national resources to further strengthen this collaboration.

"With gratitude, may I take this opportunity to affirm the abiding state-church partnership in health, which represents our shared responsibility for the health of our dear nation – Ghana. I believe there are more prospects and potentials for strengthening this partnership framework by ensuring equitable distribution of national resources for health," he said.

He also acknowledged the critical role of development partners, such as PharmAccess, in enhancing healthcare delivery.

"For our development partners such as PharmAccess, this joint SafeCare programme shows the value of collaboration and cooperation in promoting national and global health security. We remain grateful for demonstrating trust and confidence in CHAG," Bishop Louis added.

In his concluding remarks, Bishop Louis urged CHAG leadership to prioritise professional excellence and innovation to strengthen the health sector.

"Finally, to the entire CHAG leadership, it’s our fervent hope that you’ll continue to uphold your stewardship role in maintaining this edifice and safeguard standards of professional excellence by conceptualizing innovative projects and programmes towards strengthening the CHAG network and the health sector as a whole," he said.

The Chairman of the Christian Council, Rt. Rev. Dr. Hilliard Dela Dogbe, emphasized the Christian community’s resolve to support sustainable healthcare delivery and praised CHAG’s achievements.

“The Church in Ghana has long been perceived as a leader in the provision of excellent healthcare. With the introduction of SafeCare, we now have a quality assurance program that elevates this perception by providing objective assessments, ratings, and benchmarks for our services.

"We cannot go back in providing quality assurance. The assessments and ratings are tools to ensure that we continue to give off our best. I trust and believe that none of the facilities that have reached Level 4 will want to drop to Level 3. Instead, all of us must aim to reach the pinnacle of Level 5 - or perhaps beyond that.”

He added, “This remarkable success reflects the unwavering support from church leadership and the Christian community. We are grateful to PharmAccess and other partners for their incredible support to CHAG.”

The Chairman of the occasion and the Board Chairman of the University of Ghana Medical Centre, Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, described the commissioning of the SafeCare Hub as a landmark moment in Ghana’s healthcare journey and called on all stakeholders to support its vision.

For millions of Ghanaians, the SafeCare Hub represents more than a building - it is a symbol of hope, innovation, and a commitment to delivering healthcare that prioritises quality, safety, and dignity.