The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has reiterated Ghana’s commitment to strengthening domestic health financing amid declining donor support, as he participated in discussions on Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda in Addis Ababa.

Addressing the meeting, the minister underscored that although external donor funds are shrinking, the government under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, has taken decisive steps to increase allocations to the health sector through both the national budget and dedicated financial schemes.

“In Ghana, we see the health sector as an investment and not necessarily an expenditure,” Akandoh stated, adding that government releases to the sector are made promptly to ensure targets are achieved.

He highlighted the role of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) as a reliable source of funding.

According to him, the President’s decision to uncap the National Health Insurance Levy has significantly boosted resources available to the sector. Previously, a portion of the levy was redirected into the Consolidated Fund, but the uncapping now ensures that all proceeds remain within the health sector.

The move, he revealed, has unlocked an additional $350 million for healthcare delivery.

The minister explained that part of the funds is being channelled into tackling the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which continue to claim lives at an alarming rate.

Other allocations are supporting the rollout of Free Primary Health Care (FPHC), ensuring that all Ghanaians benefit from the levy they contribute.

With these measures, Akandoh stressed that Ghana is demonstrating how dedicated financing can drive sustainability in Africa’s health security and sovereignty agenda.