The Minority in Parliament has demanded an investigation into the nationwide shutdown of key Ghana Health Service (GHS) digital platforms after cloud hosting provider Akamai reportedly suspended 10 servers over an outstanding bill of US$64,510.95.

The caucus, led on the issue by the Ranking Member of Parliament's Health Committee, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, is demanding answers from the government and Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh over what it describes as a worrying failure to keep critical national health information systems operational.

The disruption, which took effect on October 29, 2026, has affected several electronic platforms used by health facilities across the country to collect, process and manage health information.

In an internal memorandum dated November 2, 2026, Ghana Health Service Director-General Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea reportedly informed regional and divisional directors that Akamai had suspended all 10 servers hosting the affected systems over the unpaid amount.

Among the affected platforms are the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2), Planning and Budget Management Information System (PBMIS), eTracker, Family Planning and Health Care platforms, HIV and tuberculosis trackers, the National Malaria Data Repository, the Non-Communicable Disease tracker and the Community Health Information Management portal.

The disruption has forced health facilities and district offices to temporarily return to paper-based reporting to ensure that essential health records continue to be captured until access to the digital platforms is restored.

Some Android-based applications can reportedly continue collecting information offline, although the data cannot be uploaded to the central systems until normal services resume.

Reacting to the development, the Minority questioned how critical national health information infrastructure could become inaccessible over an outstanding hosting payment of just US$64,510.95.

The caucus also wants the government to explain what has become of its promises to reform Ghana's digital health infrastructure following the introduction of the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) in October 2025.

At the time, the Health Minister announced GHIMS as a state-owned platform to replace the controversial Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS), which had faced criticism over its implementation and contractual arrangements.

The announcement was accompanied by assurances that the new system would give the state greater ownership and control over health information.

The Minority is now questioning the resources committed to GHIMS, the progress made since its announcement and whether adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the country's digital health infrastructure.

The caucus also pointed to the Ministry of Health's increased budgetary allocation, which rose from approximately GH¢17.8 billion in 2025 to GH¢22.8 billion for 2026, an increase of about 28 per cent in nominal terms.

It argued that the disruption raises serious questions about financial planning and the government's ability to meet essential technology-related obligations despite the substantial allocation to the health sector.

The Minority has consequently outlined five demands: the immediate restoration of all affected digital platforms; full disclosure of GHIMS allocations, expenditure and implementation progress; an investigation into the Akamai shutdown and the institutions responsible; an independent audit of the country's digital health infrastructure, hosting arrangements and data security; and sustainable financing arrangements to prevent a recurrence.

The caucus acknowledged assurances from the Ghana Health Service that the shutdown had not resulted in data loss or a security breach, with encrypted backups reportedly maintained outside the suspended hosting account.

However, it insisted that preserving information was not enough when health facilities could no longer access the systems needed to manage and report that information.

The Minority maintains that Ghana cannot afford a national health information infrastructure that becomes inaccessible because of unresolved administrative and financial obligations.

It has therefore vowed to pursue parliamentary oversight to ensure that the government and relevant institutions account for the disruption.

"Ghana's health system deserves more than promises. It deserves accountability!" Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie said in the statement.

The caucus is demanding urgent action from the Health Ministry, insisting that Ghanaians deserve a reliable digital health system rather than repeated assurances about reforms.




EA