The Ministry of Health (MOH) in collaboration with Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) on Monday organised an advanced leadership workshop for health practitioners in Accra.

The one week workshop funded by DANIDA Fellowship Centre was aimed at empowering the participants with skills and knowledge in advanced leadership in coordinating the Ministry's activities and impart it on the country's health system.

Professor Samuel Bonsu, Dean of GIMPA Business School said the initiative of the MOH is to identify its needs and the necessity for some changes at the higher level of health administration.

Prof. Bonsu said the workshop is necessary because it would address some of the challenges faced by the ministry since the health sector is critical in socio-economic development.

He said the workshop would utilise the skills of the health practitioners in order to be productive and improve the health sector.

Prof Bonsu said If the health system is working well, it helps to create a conducive environment for the citizenry and investors for business transactions, and facilitates and improve health delivery.

He said some of the topics to be discussed include leadership for change in the new Ghana, the challenges of change in Ghana, values and motivational factors affecting leadership exercises, development of leadership styles and strategic performance improvement plans.

"It is our hope that at the end of the programme, there would be better managers who understand the needs and skills to coordinate effective programmes at their various units for enhanced efficiency at the ministry," he added.

Professor Franklyn Manu, Rector of GIMPA, in an address read on his behalf said GIMPA is one of the successful and sustainable institutions with experts in management programmes, adding that the workshop would help discuss and address some of the challenges in the health sector for improvement.

Mr Jeef Bech, Leadership Expert at DANIDA Fellowship Centre, said the office is committed to use its experience to help the Ministry improve the health sector since the centre focuses on sustaining development through research development.

He said DANIDA and Ghana have enjoyed a long relationship in training programmes adding that the workshop would enhance leadership development.