October for Palliative Care Excellence in Ghana is a yearly program established by GPCA in connection with the WHPC – Day by the WHPCA. In every 2nd Saturday October each year Palliative Care is celebrated globally. Children Palliative Care is celebrated the day (Friday) before the international Palliative and Hospice Care Day.

Over the years, Ghana celebrated the day with a Candle Light Vigil to celebrate Heros and patient or clients in palliative care. In 2024, the GPCA planned and established the maiden edition of October For Palliative Care Excellence In Ghana.

Theme for WHPC- Day 2024 was – 10 Years After the Resolution: How Are We Doing. In Ghana, Palliative Care at the moment (2024) has no direct policy but has various mentions in other policies such as the essential services policy and Universal Health Coverage Policy of the MoH, 2020 to 2030.

GPCA therefore adopted the theme: 10 Years After The Resolution; 5 Years to End the UHC Policy 2020-2030: How is Ghana Doing?

The MoH of Ghana in 2024 cited GPCA to lead the discussions towards a National Strategic Plan for a pilot National Palliative Care Program Implementation to run between 2025 to 2030. In planning and putting together a draft proposed strategy to be adopted by MoH, GPCA carried out quite a number of activities in October, 2024.

These includes:
1. National three Days Webinar Series on objectives of our National Strategic Plan 2025 to 2030
2. Symposium on selected Objectives of our strategic plan
3. Alignment with Strategic Partners- International and Local.
4. Invitation for Proposals from Institutional Membership
5. Invitation for Sponsorship from Institutional Membership and others to form collaborative partnership
6. Launch of website
7. Meet and Greet with Institutional Membership
8. Meet and Greet with International Partners and Colaborators
9. National Executives Council visitations to Institutional Membership
10. Proposal of a pilot National Palliative Care Program