Strengthening Healthcare Governance: MSM hosts customised executive training for Ghanaian health leaders
From 28 April to 2 May 2025, Maastricht School of Management (MSM) welcomed a group of healthcare professionals from Ghana for a custom executive training programme, developed in close collaboration with TAIPE The African Institute for Professional Excellence. The programme was designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of governance best practices in the healthcare sector, with a particular focus on the European context.
Over the course of five days, participants engaged in a rich and interactive programme combining academic modules, expert-led workshops, and company visits. Topics included effective leadership, corporate governance in healthcare, innovation, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare management. Site visits to Johnson & Johnson in Belgium and Maastricht University Medical Centre+ offered participants real-world insights into how governance and innovation are integrated in practice.
The programme began with a deep dive into leadership effectiveness and its role in shaping organisational culture. Participants explored their own leadership styles using the Leadership Circle Profile and reflected on how to foster high-performing teams within their institutions. This was followed by sessions on corporate and clinical governance, risk management in public-private healthcare partnerships, and the challenges of healthcare governance in emerging economies.
Day three included a visit to Johnson & Johnson’s campus in Beerse, where Viggo Van Tendeloo, Director External Innovation for the Benelux region, introduced participants to the company’s innovation strategy and role in the wider life sciences ecosystem. Participant Albera Nsiah-Asamoah described the visit as “amazing – getting insights into the operations of the company, and how they have evolved along the lines of sustainability opened my eyes to how to build a brand with a vision that outlives the founder.” She added that the cross-border travel also gave her the chance to appreciate the Belgian countryside.
Innovation remained a key theme on day four, with lectures and hands-on sessions on the impact of AI in healthcare. Executives explored digital and process innovations, AI tools, and ethical considerations, while a workshop at Maastricht University's DEXLab provided a practical experience of immersive AI technologies. Nsiah-Asamoah praised this component of the programme as “fantastic, noting that the trainer introduced a complex topic effectively in a short amount of time, and the afternoon session at the lab was particularly engaging."
The programme concluded with a capstone project, in which participants worked in teams to design actionable strategies aimed at improving leadership and governance in their home institutions. For Nsiah-Asamoah, the capstone brought everything into perspective: “Before the capstone project, I was struggling a bit to conceptualise everything I had learnt and how to view my facility’s problems. The day five trainer helped bring all the learnings from the week together and made the applicability of it all so clear.”
In terms of delivery, the programme received praise not only for its academic content but also for the organisation and hospitality. “The programme was well organised and well coordinated,” Nsiah-Asamoah reflected. “All coordinators were excellent. I was especially surprised by the extent the lunch lady went to include a local drink 'sobolo' on the first day. Food and refreshments were always in abundance.”
The lead trainers also made a strong impression. Nsiah-Asamoah noted, “The day one trainer gave me a different look at leadership, especially at myself. The trainer on Tuesday gave me a new perspective on public-private partnerships.”
Participant Dr Ebenezer Inkoom echoed similar sentiments:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the programme and lectures and gained loads of knowledge and exposure. As a private medical practitioner and a leader of a team of over 100 staff, I intend to practise the use of the tools—especially in leadership and corporate governance—to better govern my business. I also plan to acquire some AI-related equipment and software to support my clinical practice and hospital management.”
With participants bringing in diverse expertise from across Ghana’s healthcare landscape, the programme fostered rich dialogue and knowledge exchange, further strengthening the relationship between MSM, TAIPE, and the healthcare leaders shaping the future of health systems in Africa.
About MSM’s Global Customised Programmes
MSM’s Global Custom Programmes are developed to help shape or transform your organisation and to develop your people. Tailored to the specific training needs and objectives of your organisation, the custom-made programmes are the perfect tool to strengthen the leadership skills and expertise of your professionals. MSM’s Global Custom Programmes are specifically designed to effectively address your organizational challenges in the areas of: Leadership and Management, Partnerships and Value Chains, Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and Employability , Education and training. Click here for more info
Related links
Interactive sustainability programme at Maastricht School of Management: A transformative experience for IIM Lucknow students
MOBILISE Project: Advancing circular talent development in climate-smart agriculture
A comprehensive analysis of gender dynamics in organizations: Integrating social, structural and individual dimensions
