Ghana’s Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) has shuttered 17 medical facilities across the country, citing expired licenses and unsafe operating conditions as part of a broad regulatory crackdown aimed at tightening oversight in the nation’s healthcare sector.
The closures follow a nationwide inspection campaign targeting facilities operating without proper authorization or documentation. HeFRA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Winfred Baah, said the action was necessary to safeguard public health and ensure that only licensed, compliant facilities are permitted to treat patients.
“Some of these facilities have persistently disregarded regulatory requirements,” Dr. Baah said during a press briefing. “They have ignored administrative fines and failed to renew their licenses. Without proper licensing, we cannot verify the competence of their staff or the safety of their medical equipment.”
HeFRA’s enforcement effort is part of what Dr. Baah described as a “reset” within the agency, aimed at strengthening its ability to regulate the country’s growing healthcare landscape. He warned that facilities found operating without valid licenses would face immediate closure going forward.
“Where standards are compromised, we are compelled to intervene,” he said. “Patient safety remains our top priority.”
The agency urged all health facility operators to bring their documentation up to date and comply with regulatory requirements or risk sanctions, including permanent closure.
