Former Deputy Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has cautioned against any abrupt withdrawal from foreign health assistance, arguing that Ghana remains heavily dependent on external support.
Speaking on PM Express on Monday, the legislator, who also serves on Parliament’s Health Committee, stated that the country is not yet positioned to disengage from donor aid without significant consequences. He emphasised the need for a more measured approach, noting that while reform is necessary, an immediate break would be impractical.
His remarks follow Ghana’s recent rejection of a proposed health agreement with the United States.
Mr Acquah highlighted structural inefficiencies within the system, recalling challenges encountered during his tenure as Deputy Minister. He pointed to situations where donated medical supplies were delayed at ports due to administrative bottlenecks, despite being urgently needed within the health system.
He further questioned the policy inconsistencies surrounding donor support, particularly the imposition of taxes on donated medical goods, even as the country expresses intentions to reduce reliance on such aid. According to him, this contradiction underscores the complexity of transitioning away from external assistance.
Referencing the Abuja Declaration, which encourages African countries to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to health, Mr Acquah noted that even this framework anticipates continued support from development partners. He therefore argued that Ghana must prioritise internal reforms, particularly by addressing inefficiencies and waste within the public sector.
The former Deputy Minister warned that the health sector is already experiencing strain, especially in the wake of reduced support from key international partners, including the United States. He explained that several critical programmes had historically relied on such assistance, and the decline in funding is beginning to expose vulnerabilities.
He also disclosed that recent engagements with officials from the Ghana Health Service revealed the scale of the financial challenges confronting the sector, stressing the urgency of rethinking health financing strategies.
While acknowledging the ongoing support from other donor agencies, Mr Acquah maintained that Ghana has a limited window to reassess its approach. He urged policymakers to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and improve efficiency to ensure the sustainability of the health sector.
