President John Dramani Mahama opened two newly built Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds in the farming communities of Ahyiaem and Asuatrekrom, located in the Tano North Municipality, on October 10, 2026, as part of his two‑day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Ahafo Region.
The new facilities are designed to improve access to basic healthcare for residents, aligning with the government’s broader strategy to expand primary health delivery across the country. Under the Free Primary Healthcare Programme, services at the CHPS compounds will be provided at no cost to patients.
During the commissioning ceremonies, President Mahama explained that his administration has re‑allocated the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to give Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) greater authority over infrastructure projects. He noted that the previous administration had retained a large portion of the DACF in Accra for contract awards, rather than channeling it directly to the assemblies to set and execute local priorities.
“We have decided to allocate 80 per cent of the DACF to the MMDAs to support local infrastructure projects, including the construction of CHPS compounds and basic schools,” President Mahama said.
He further announced a directive that every MMDA should construct two CHPS compounds and two basic schools each year, a move intended to decentralise development and accelerate service delivery at the grassroots level.
At the Ahyiaem opening, Dormaahemaa Odeneho Dr Akosua Fima Dwaben II thanked the President for the initiative, highlighting its expected impact on healthcare access in the area. The ceremonies were attended by local leaders, health officials and community members, all eager to see the new compounds become operational.
With these additions, the Tano North Municipality now boasts enhanced primary health infrastructure, positioning the region to better meet the medical needs of its growing population. The government plans to monitor the compounds’ performance and expand the model to other districts in the coming years.
Observers will watch how the increased local control over the DACF influences future development projects and whether the free primary care model achieves its intended health outcomes across the Ahafo Region.
