Prof Grace Ayensu-Danquah selected Deputy Minister of Health. Following her nomination to be the Deputy Minister of Health, Kobby Blay, arguably one of Ghana’s most respected health reporters and editor of the Ghana Health Nest, has made a revealing post, confirming and stating his expectations of the incoming Deputy Minister of Health.
In this write up, we present to you “unedited” what he posted on his facebook wall on the 9th of July, 2025.
CONFIRMED: Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah selected as Deputy Minister of Health, her profile and my thoughts and expectations.
Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, MP for Essikado Ketan constituency, has been nominated as Deputy Minister of Health. This comes nearly five months after Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh was appointed sector Minister.
Both appointments were first predicted in this list I made somewhere January 4th 2025 see here: https://www.facebook.com/share/196HBmbixp/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Days ago when rumors of her selection broke, it was met with largely positive sentiments across the health and medical community. Some believe this is a practical step forward given the current challenges and opportunities in the sector.
1. Her Professional Profile (from multiple sources)
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah is a double board-certified surgeon trained in general, trauma, and reconstructive surgery, with licenses to practice in California, Michigan, and Maryland. She holds a BSc in Biology from the University of Southern California, an MD from the University of Wisconsin, and an MPH in International Health Management and Planning from Johns Hopkins University, with additional certification in humanitarian assistance and disaster management.
She is also a fellow of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and the International College of Surgeons.
In Ghana, she runs Sage Medical Center, a surgical and dialysis facility in Accra. She also founded Healing Hands Organization, which offers free medical services and equipment to underserved communities. Academically, she is a professor at the University of Utah’s Center for Global Surgery and lectures at the University of Cape Coast. She serves on the FDA’s Vaccine Advisory Team and is a board member of Days for Girls International Ghana.
2. Public Health Contributions
During the height of COVID-19, Dr Ayensu-Danquah made significant public education and advocacy calls through multiple media appearances.
In 2023, she led calls for the removal of taxes on dialysis consumables and advocated for their inclusion under the NHIS.
Her organization continues to provide surgical outreach, screenings, and support to rural clinics. As MP for Essikado-Ketan, she also called for improved emergency medical preparedness in Parliament.
3. Context of Her Nomation
Her selection is as key to advancing the health sector as contained in the JM resetting agenda for healthcare; including the Free Primary Healthcare initiative (FPHC), the #MahamaCares program, and broader NHIS sustainability efforts. With the health sector facing post-pandemic recovery, with recent spike of COVID-19, raging outbreak of MPOX and rising non-communicable diseases, her experience in clinical care, public health, and humanitarian service offers grounded and relevant leadership.
4. My Expectations?
I hope to see her building more warmth engagements with the various groups of the sector taking advantage of invitations to participate in key events to minimise the agitations.
I am also optimistic she will open her doors to more CSO’s and partnerships with groups ready to support the healthcare resetting agenda especially on new technologies for primary healthcare.
I hope Dr. Ayensu-Danquah’s appointment brings renewed capacity to a sector requiring strong and inclusive leadership starting with an effective and cordial relationship with the Health minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
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