How healthy is Ghana’s health sector?

Under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the obligations of States are: (a) to reduce infant and child mortality rate; (b) to ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children with emphasis on the development of primary health care; (c) to ensure the provision of adequate nutrition and safe drinking water; (d) to combat disease and malnutrition within the framework of primary health care through the application of appropriate technology; (e) to ensure appropriate health care for expectant and nursing mothers; (f) to develop preventive health care and family life education and provision of service; (g) to integrate basic health service programmes in national development plans; (h) to ensure that all sectors of the society, in particular parents, children, community leaders and community workers are informed and supported in the use of basic knowledge of child health and nutrition, the advantages of breastfeeding, hygiene and environmental sanitation and the prevention of domestic and other accidents; (i) to ensure the meaningful participation of non-governmental organizations, local communities and the beneficiary population in the planning and management of basic service programme for children; (j) to support through technical and financial means, the mobilization of local community resources in the development of primary health care for children (Article 14).“The President shall report to Parliament at least once a year on all steps taken to ensure the realization of the policy objectives contained in [the] Chapter; and, in particular, the realization of basic human rights, a healthy economy, the right to work, the right to good health care and the right to education” (Article 34(2)).

Regional and global norms and standards In terms of relevance to Ghana, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (adopted in 1981, entered into force in 1986) is the first normative regional instrument to fully translate the WHO definition of health into a fundamental human right.