Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, the Deputy Minister of Health, says the Ministry is reinforcing a culture of fiscal integrity to maintain honesty, transparency and ethical behaviour in all financial dealings.

She, therefore, reminded all institutions under the Ministry of their duty to adhere to the Public Financial Management Act, insisting that “Responsible stewardship of resources is non-negotiable, as every cedi saved is a cedi invested in better healthcare for Ghanaians.”

Dr Ayensu-Danquah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Essikado-Ketan Constituency, said this in a speech read on her behalf at the matriculation ceremony and launch of the 75th Anniversary of the Midwifery Training College in Bolgatanga.

The programme was on the theme: “75 years of excellence in midwifery education; Sustaining Maternal and Child Health Care.”

It was graced by the Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang, the Paramount Chief of the Talensi Traditional Area, and Naab Pariyoung Kosom Yelzoya Asaga II, Paramount Chief of the Nangodi Traditional Area.

The college, with a total student population of 575, began in 1950, with twelve pioneering students to train as Qualified Registered Nurses for the then Upper Region.

From the modest beginnings, the institution had over the decades been resilient and adaptive force in Ghana’s healthcare landscape as it had churned out highly skilled midwives in Ghana and beyond.

Dr Ayensu-Danquah encouraged management of the college to use the anniversary as a moment to reaffirm their role as a centre of excellence, a school that produces clinically grounded, community-focused, and fully prepared midwives to respond to the evolving needs of mothers and babies in Ghana.

The Deputy Minister said the college, as a beacon of excellence for 75 years, shaped generations of midwives who dedicated their lives to safe motherhood and community health.

“With the continued partnership between the Government, this esteemed institution, and the communities you serve, the next 75 years will see this light shine even brighter, guiding Ghana toward healthier mothers, safer births, and stronger families,” she said.

She said management of the college should ensure that their anniversary dialogues and seminars generated practical recommendations on strengthening midwifery training, especially in early detection of complications, respectful maternity care, emergency obstetric response, and community engagement.

“Let your celebrations include community outreach programmes, promoting safe pregnancy, newborn care, family planning, and the prevention of maternal and neonatal infections,” she added.

Hajia Mary Lamisi, the Principal of the college, enumerated some challenges including infrastructure constraints, particularly, hostels and classrooms, which affected the institution’s capacity to expand.

She said transportation limitations also affected their clinical placements and community outreach, coupled with systemic issues such as job clearance delays, which impacted their graduate output and national health workforce planning.

“But we are not defined by our challenges; we are defined by our response. It is in this spirit of proactive transformation that we have developed our new Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, which we will officially unveil in the coming year. This plan is our blueprint for the next chapter,” she said.