Why Ghana’s health sector could face deeper problems – Former Deputy Health Minister explains
Alexander Akwasi Acquah, MP for Akim Oda, has cautioned that if the government doesn’t act quickly to address waste and improve health financing, the health sector may experience even more strain.
In an interview on PM Express on JoyNews, the former Deputy Health Minister stated that the nation cannot afford to ignore the pressure building within the system in the wake of the US health deal’s rejection.
He cited persistent inefficiencies that continue to undermine the health sector.
“Well, currently, I would say no, we just have to do something about it. Because even though I was in my former position as the deputy minister, I could not come to terms with the fact that we had aid in terms of logistics from foreign partners, and we could not just clear them from the ports,” he said.
He said the contradiction remains troubling.
“So even with the aid that is coming, we still want to take taxes on them to support our budgets, and now we say we want to be totally free from them. How do we survive?”
Mr Acquah said Ghana’s commitments under the Abuja Declaration still recognise the importance of support from development partners.
“I mean, this 15% declaration by the Abuja declaration still demanded that there be that level of support from developed countries, developed partners.”
He said the immediate task is to confront waste in the public sector.
“And so kindly, we just have to buy the bullet. And like Dr Nii Moi Thompson said, we may have to look into our systems and cut off all the waste, because there is a lot of waste within our public sector, and you cannot take away the health sector.”
According to him, heavy reliance on aid has left parts of the health system exposed.
“I’m telling you, the health sector is suffering, because I know what is happening, especially when the USA and others got cut off.”
He said some programmes that depended heavily on external support are already under pressure.
“There are certain areas that got a lot of motivation from some of this aid, and now that they are not coming, it’s become critical.”
The MP disclosed that a recent meeting with the head of the Ghana Health Service and programme managers painted a worrying picture.
“Very recently, I think about a month or so ago, we met the Ghana Health Service boss and their agencies, and all the programme managers in their presentation gave us an indication of what is ahead if we do not sit up to look at the finance and health financing.”
He said the country still has some breathing space because other donor partners remain engaged.
“I thank God it’s only the US that is playing this kind of game with us. There are some other donor agencies that are still with us.”
“And so it gives us an opportunity to start looking beyond it. And let’s look at our source.”
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