The Global Fund has ceased shipments of vital medical supplies to Ghana, citing delays in clearing previous donations held up at the Tema Port.
Among the affected items are life-saving antiretroviral drugs crucial for HIV/AIDS patients.
Expressing profound concern, the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis (ACHPR&A) has rebuked the government’s sluggish response in releasing these essential supplies.
Dr. Thomas Anaba, the Executive Director of ACHPR&A, voiced his dissatisfaction during an interview with Citi News, criticizing the government’s lackadaisical approach to clearing vital health commodities.
Dr. Anaba underscored the urgency of the situation, highlighting the inefficacy of a recent visit by a Global Fund delegation, which failed to yield progress.
The delays have also prompted alarm at the Ghana AIDS Commission and a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) dedicated to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
The CSOs have announced plans for a protest on April 17 to condemn the prolonged detention of critical medical supplies. Dr. Anaba explained,”A 12-member delegation from the Global Fund paid a working visit to this country to follow up on the locked-up commodities. In spite of all their efforts, they did not make any headway, and the commodities still remain uncleared at the ports.
“They have, therefore, indicated that Ghana risks losing all Global Fund support if the government fails to act on the matter. To start with, they have already suspended all commodity shipments to the country until the ones at the ports are cleared. This development has dire consequences for the hundreds of thousands of our compatriots on free medications donated by the Global Fund”.