New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Anyaa-Sowutuom, Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, has admitted to deficiencies in Ghana’s management of medical supplies currently detained at the Tema port. These supplies, provided by the Global Fund and other international organizations at no cost, have been held up for over a year, causing significant strain on the nation’s health infrastructure.
In a recent interview with Channel One, Dr. Adomako Kissi highlighted the issue of delayed medical supplies, expressing regret over the mismanagement of these critical resources. He called for a more efficient and proactive approach in handling health-related imports, stressing the need for better coordination and oversight to ensure timely delivery to their intended recipients.
The MP emphasized the necessity for greater accountability and transparency in managing health resources, urging the government to learn from these lapses to prevent future occurrences. He pointed out that Ghana’s earlier vaccine issues were partly due to the expectation for the country to take over responsibilities previously managed by international organizations like GAVI.
Dr. Adomako Kissi acknowledged financial challenges in the country, which have affected priorities and availability of resources. He admitted that there have been missteps in managing these essential supplies, and emphasized the importance of prioritizing efficient distribution to enhance healthcare delivery across Ghana.
“…I think that we’ve goofed a little in all honesty…let me admit that our finances in the country are quite challenging…So our priorities will shift and the availability will also be a problem.”
“So I wouldn’t say that we haven’t had a misstep. We’ve had a misstep and it is unfortunate that items that are very useful in terms of our health prevention activities have suffered.”