The Western Regional Health Committee has expressed concern over the transfer of the Western Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Marion Okoh Owusu, claiming it was neither consulted nor informed prior to the decision.
The committee, which is chaired by the Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson and established under an Act to provide advisory support to the regional health directorate, has described the development as surprising and worrying.
Information available to this reporter indicates that neither the Western Regional Minister nor members of the Regional Health Committee were aware of the transfer before it was effected.
Sources say the Regional Minister only became aware of the reassignment on June 1, 2026, during the launch of the government’s Free Primary Health Care programme at Akroma Plaza in Takoradi.
The event coincided with the day Dr. Okoh Owusu was expected to hand over her duties following her reassignment to the GHS headquarters in Accra.
The transfer follows an investigation reportedly conducted by a committee established by the national leadership of the Ghana Health Service after petitions were submitted against the regional director.
Dr. David Owusu, is now the acting Regional health director.The petitions allegedly accused Dr. Okoh Owusu of sidelining some members of the regional management team in the administration of the directorate.
Four other management members, the Regional Accountant, Procurement officer, Pharmacist and the Deputy Regional Director are also reported to have been transferred following the outcome of the investigation.
However, speaking to this reporter, a member of the Western Regional Health Committee expressed shock over reports that an investigation had been conducted without the knowledge of the committee.
According to the committee member, neither the Regional Health Committee nor its chairman, the Western Regional Minister, was informed of any investigative process involving the regional director.
“It is difficult to understand how such a significant investigation could be carried out without the knowledge of the Regional Health Committee.
If indeed there was an investigation that resulted in the transfer of the director, then the committee should have been consulted,” the member stated.
The source further argued that bypassing the committee undermines its statutory role and raises concerns about the decision-making process that led to the transfers.
The committee member described the situation as potentially damaging to the reputation of Dr. Okoh Owusu and questioned why key regional stakeholders were left out of a process involving the leadership of the region’s health sector.
Meanwhile, several district and municipal health directors who spoke to this reporter praised the leadership of Dr. Okoh Owusu during her tenure in the Western Region.
According to them, the regional director introduced reforms and initiatives that strengthened healthcare delivery and improved operational efficiency across the region.
The health officials maintained that the region had recorded significant progress under her leadership and expressed confidence that the measures she initiated would continue to yield positive results for the health sector.
The Ghana Health Service is yet to publicly comment on the concerns raised by members of the Regional Health Committee regarding the transfer and the alleged investigation that preceded it.
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