Emmanuel Ayire Adongo, from the World Health Organisation Country Office in Ghana explains how a simple tool – a scorecard, building on an existing policy and community engagement structures – has made it possible to engage communities in the planning, roll-out and assessment of health services. From community representatives touring facilities, to community members pitching in to improve the infrastructure, listen to the impact this tool had on the involvement of the community, the accountability of the health system, and, ultimately, the quality of care.

The Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PPME) of the Ghana Health Service is now planning to expand the roll-out of the scorecard country wide.