Dr. Moses E. K Adibo was a former Deputy Minister of Health
The Ministry of Health has eulogised the late Dr. Moses E. K Adibo, a former Deputy Minister of Health, is a man whose exemplary visionary leadership and technical excellence improved countless lives and inspired generations.
Dr Koku Awoonor-Williams, Senior Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Health, in tribute, said that at a time when Ghana’s health system faced structural and resource challenges, the late Dr Adibo played a pivotal role in reimagining and reforming its architecture.
Dr Awunoor-Williams gave the tribute at a Remembrance Service and Tribute Night in honour of the late Public Health Champion, organised by the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra.
The late Dr Adibo passed into glory on March 24, 2025, at the Hohoe Municipal Hospital.
He was born on September 4, 1928, at Akpafu in the Oti Region and was a staunch Christian and a Presbyter with the Global Evangelical Church.
The 96-year-old was survived by a Son.
He will be buried on August 16, 2025, in his Hometown, Akpafu-Mempeasem.
The Technical Advisor also described him as the chief architect, who laid the foundation for the District Health System and the decentralisation of Health Services, ensuring that the right to health care reached the remotest corners of the country.
He said under Dr Adibo’s stewardship, the National Tuberculosis(TB) Control Programme was revitalised, adopting the WHO-recommended dose strategy, a bold move that significantly advanced the control of TB in Ghana.
Dr Awoonor-Williams said beyond systems and structures, Dr. Adibo championed evidence-based policymaking, human resources development, and the strengthening of community health systems, interventions that became cornerstones of Ghana’s community-based health planning services model.
“His work, not only transformed service delivery, but also inspired a generation of health professionals committed to equity, access, and impact,” he added.
In his capacity as Deputy Minister of Health from 1998 to 2001, the late Dr. Adibo brought policy and practice into purposeful alignment.
Serving under President Jerry John Rawlings, he was instrumental in advancing National Health Policies, notably in the areas of women’s education, water and sanitation, and traditional medicine integration.
Dr. Adibo believed strongly that public health was not just the responsibility of the few but the national imperative, one that demanded collaboration, innovation, and compassion. Dr. Adibu was not merely a health administrator, he was a servant leader, a mentor, a strategist, and an advocate.
His humility, integrity, and unyielding sense of duty were as profound as his technical achievements.
Dr Awoonor-Williams said his unwavering commitment to service, compassion for humanity, and pursuit of excellence continue to echo through the corridors of hospitals, health institutions, and communities.
He said even on retirement, he remained a public health professional, sharing his wisdom through writings, mentorship, and public service engagements.
“As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate an extraordinary life well lived, a life devoted to building a stronger, healthier Ghana,” he added.
He said his contribution would continue to inspire reforms, resilience, and renewal in the health system for generations to come, even in his absence.
The late Dr Adibo was also a former Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and while alive he said: “If you send me to Hell, l will go but l will make heaven out of Hell.”
There were tributes from the Global Evangelical Church, the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr A. Asamoa-Baah, a former Deputy Director-General of WHO, and the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives.
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