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Ernest Ortsin Amoabeng, Chairman of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for Ghana, has expressed concern over the ongoing delay in clearing Family Planning supplies that have been stuck at the country’s ports since 2024. Amoabeng termed the situation as unfortunate, warning that prolonged retention of these critical commodities could undermine Ghana’s public health achievements and tarnish its international reputation.
His comments come in response to growing alarm from the Ghana Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals, which raised concerns about a severe shortage of Family Planning supplies across the country. The CSOs Platform revealed that essential Family Planning commodities, valued at approximately five hundred thousand US dollars, have been stuck at the port of entry since August 2024.
The supplies, procured by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and consigned to Ghana’s Ministry of Health, include contraceptive pills, implants, injectables, condoms, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and other crucial medical supplies.
Civil society groups have warned that continued delays in clearing these supplies could jeopardize the health of thousands of women, as stock levels at both national and regional medical stores continue to dwindle.
In an interview with 3news on April 9, Mr. Amoabeng expressed frustration over the repeated delays in clearing vital reproductive health commodities. Despite previous complaints two years ago, the situation remains unresolved, raising questions about the effectiveness of coordination and responsiveness within government systems.
Amoabeng further stressed that the delay could erode progress made in HIV prevention and jeopardize the confidence of international donors who support Ghana’s health programs. “Recent allocations from the Global Fund have been reduced by 20 percent. This indicates a significant funding gap that the government must address. The President needs to implement mechanisms to resolve this issue once and for all,” he said, adding, “It is not acceptable that items donated by global partners are held up at the port without action. It reflects poorly on us.”
In response to the ongoing concerns, President John Mahama, during an engagement with CSOs, instructed the Minister of Health and the Finance Minister to address the issue after it was raised by SEND Ghana. “The tax on family planning commodities is an issue that must be addressed. I’ve heard about a condom tax but didn’t know of any specific taxes on these items. The Health and Finance Ministers need to take action,” he directed.
It remains unclear why the clearance of donated health commodities continues to be delayed, but civil society organizations are calling for urgent action to prevent further disruptions and ensure the timely availability of these essential supplies.
Story by Efua Nessa
Source :Loco tv