Ghana is advancing efforts to strengthen its school health system as it works to revise the national School Health Policy in alignment with the WHO-UNESCO Global Standards for Health-Promoting Schools. Supported by the World Health Organization and funded by Fondation Botnar, this process aims to ensure that schools provide safe, inclusive, and health-supportive environments that enhance both student well-being and academic success.
To facilitate this alignment, a two-day orientation was held from 25–26 June 2025 for members of the multi-sectoral Technical Working Group leading the policy revision. While WHO Headquarters facilitated the sessions virtually, national stakeholders met in person in Accra to engage in collaborative discussions and strengthen their understanding of the global standards.
During the opening session, WHO representatives underscored the importance of transforming policy into meaningful action that improves the lives of children and adolescents. Government officials also highlighted the extensive collaborative process behind the draft policy and the need for continued coordination across sectors.
Experts from WHO Headquarters provided detailed guidance on the Global Standards, explaining the whole-school approach and outlining steps for effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation. This laid the groundwork for practical planning sessions in which TWG members examined sections of the draft policy that need realignment and identified technical support required for the next phase.
The orientation concluded with a shared commitment to finalizing revisions, validating the updated policy, and developing a national implementation roadmap. This roadmap will guide the rollout of health-promoting schools across the country, reinforcing Ghana’s dedication to improving child and adolescent health and creating supportive learning environments nationwide.
