Ghana's Deputy Health Minister appointed to African Union global health committee
via GhanaWeb3 min read
Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Ghana's Deputy Minister of Health and National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, has been appointed as a Secretariat Member of the African High-Level Ministerial Committee AHLMC. This African Union initiative aims to strengthen Africa’s influence in global health decision-making and reform the global health architecture to benefit the continent. Her appointment, announced in a letter dated April 13, 2026, by Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Director-General, Dr. Jean Kaseya, follows a decision by the AU Assembly in February 2026. The AHLMC seeks to consolidate Africa’s position for a more equitable, coherent, and effective global health system. As a Secretariat member, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah, a board-certified general surgeon and public health policy expert, will contribute to advancing priorities such as health governance reform, sustainable financing, equity in healthcare access, resilient health systems, and data and accountability. Her role positions Ghana prominently within Africa’s efforts to reshape global health governance and aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s health agenda, which emphasizes health sovereignty, system strengthening, preventive care, and regional cooperation. President Mahama has prioritized improving public health financing, rebuilding confidence in the National Health Insurance Scheme, expanding access to primary healthcare, and launched the Free Primary Healthcare policy
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Must ReadA coalition of 12 civil society organizations CSOs plans to intervene as friends of the court in a Supreme Court case concerning the powers of Ghana's Office of the Special Prosecutor OSP. The CSOs intend to file an amicus curiae brief in a suit involving Noah Adamtey, asserting that their involvement is crucial to protect the OSP's constitutional standing against what they perceive as significant legal threats. They argue that undermining the OSP's prosecutorial authority could reverse progress in anti-corruption efforts and erode public trust. This intervention follows an April 15, 2026 ruling by the Accra High Court, which stated that the OSP requires prior approval from the Attorney-General to prosecute criminal cases independently and directed the transfer of ongoing OSP prosecutions. The OSP, established under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 Act 959, has rejected the High Court's decision, maintaining that only the Supreme Court can interpret constitutional provisions or invalidate an Act of Parliament, and is challenging the ruling. Kojo Asante of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development called for strengthening the OSP rather than restricting it. The coalition includes organizations such as IMANI Africa, Transparency International Ghana, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, the Africa Centre for Energy Policy, and NORSAAC.
Dr. Robert Amesiya, the Greater Accra Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, has urged for enhanced collaboration between health authorities and the media to boost public awareness and health outcomes in the region. Speaking at a media exchange program organized by Jhpiego in partnership with the Ministry of Health Ghana and the Ghana Health Service on April 21, 2026, Dr. Amesiya highlighted that communication gaps hinder the effectiveness of current health interventions, despite efforts like community health nurses, home visits, and public education campaigns. He noted that the region's large, diverse, and urbanized population complicates the reception and understanding of health messages, making media engagement crucial. Dr. Pearl Nanka-Bruce, Country Director of Jhpiego, stated that the organization aligns its interventions with government priorities and collaborates with national institutions to improve healthcare delivery, supporting the health system through training, equipment, and technical assistance. Jhpiego will continue to work with partners to improve maternal and newborn care, breast cancer care, pandemic preparedness, and global health security.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress NDC, has called for patience among party members who have not yet received government appointments. He emphasized that political rewards often materialize over time and cautioned against the expectation that the party's return to power guarantees immediate positions for all. Nketiah highlighted President John Dramani Mahama's policy to reduce the number of ministers from 120 to 60, a move praised within the party, and questioned the likelihood of securing a position given the reduced government size. While acknowledging the disappointment of some members, he urged a long-term view, noting that political benefits are not always immediate or uniformly distributed. He also warned against internal divisions or actions that could undermine the party due to frustrations over appointments.