The Global Fund has put a stop to the delivery of essential medical supplies to Ghana due to delays in clearing previous donations held up at the Tema Port.
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Included in the affected items are crucial antiretroviral drugs vital for patients battling HIV/AIDS.
Expressing serious concern, the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis (ACHPR&A) criticized the government’s sluggish response in releasing these vital supplies.
Dr. Thomas Anaba, the Executive Director of ACHPR&A, did not hold back during an interview with Citi News, condemning the government’s lack of urgency in clearing essential health commodities.
Dr. Anaba stressed the urgent nature of the situation, highlighting the lack of progress despite a recent visit by a delegation from the Global Fund.
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The delays have also raised alarms 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 protest the prolonged detention of critical medical supplies.
“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,” he explained.
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