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Ghana Advances School Health System Reform with Updated National Policy
Ghana is actively enhancing its school health framework by revising its national School Health Policy. This effort, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and funded by Fondation Botnar, aims to align the policy draft with the WHO-UNESCO Global Standards for Health-Promoting Schools (HPS). These internationally recognized standards offer a robust blueprint for cultivating school environments that are safe, inclusive, and nurturing-promoting both physical and mental health while boosting educational outcomes.
Capacity Building for Policy Development
From June 25 to 26, 2025, a two-day orientation was conducted to strengthen the expertise of the multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) responsible for steering the policy revision. While WHO Headquarters facilitated the sessions virtually, national stakeholders gathered in person at the WHO Country Office in Accra. This hybrid format encouraged active participation and collaborative dialogue among key actors.
Deepening Understanding of Global Standards
The orientation focused on enhancing comprehension of the Global Standards, offering actionable guidance for their implementation, and initiating strategic planning to embed these standards into Ghana’s draft policy. Dr. Asrat Sofonias, Health Systems Advisor and ULC Cluster Lead, representing the WHO Country Representative, underscored the session’s significance as a foundational step toward transforming every Ghanaian school into a hub of health promotion and well-being.
“Your technical expertise and teamwork will be instrumental in turning this policy from a written framework into impactful actions that improve the lives of children and adolescents nationwide,” Dr. Sofonias remarked.
Collaborative Policy Formulation
Mr. Dzomeku Selasi, Deputy Director overseeing School Health at the Ministry of Education, emphasized the extensive collaborative process behind the policy’s current draft. He noted, “Our team has engaged multiple stakeholders through various stages to develop a comprehensive and inclusive draft.”
Introducing the WHO-UNESCO Global Standards
Dr. Valentina Baltag, Unit Head for Adolescent and Young Adult Health at WHO Headquarters, provided an overview of the Global Standards. She highlighted the importance of adopting a whole-school approach, which integrates health promotion into all aspects of school life. Dr. Baltag also detailed the steps for effective implementation, including establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress and outcomes.
Strategic Planning and Next Steps
The second day was dedicated to practical planning, where TWG members collaboratively identified sections of the draft policy requiring adjustment to better align with the Global Standards. Discussions also addressed the technical support needed for the forthcoming stages of policy development. These sessions reinforced the necessity of strong stakeholder collaboration and cross-sector coordination to ensure equitable and sustainable delivery of school health services.
The orientation concluded with a clear roadmap: finalizing policy revisions, validating the updated draft through the TWG, securing additional technical assistance, and crafting a national implementation plan. This plan will guide the nationwide rollout of health-promoting schools, advancing Ghana’s commitment to improving child and adolescent health and well-being.
