Delays in clearing lifesaving medicines at Tema port to end by Friday — Health Ministry

Ghana’s Ministry of Health has announced that plans are underway to clear the remaining 182 containers of lifesaving medicines and health commodities stuck at the Tema Port by this coming Friday.

This follows months of delays in clearing over $40 million worth of anti-HIV, tuberculosis and malaria medicines donated by the Global Fund since last year.

The delays have created severe shortages across health facilities with the Global Fund suspending its donation to the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 9, the Ministry said it has engaged extensively with the Ghana Revenue Authority, Customs Division and the Ministry of Finance to find a solution.

According to the statement signed by the Public Relations Unit, "the MoH has made significant progress in the process of clearing the remaining 182 containers at the Port, containing the anti-HIV, TB and malaria medicines and mosquito nets by Friday, 12th April, 2024."

The statement added that "the challenges associated with the clearing of MoH medicines and other commodities from the Tema Port and other points of entry have been conclusively and completely resolved by the Government."

Civil society organizations had threatened to demonstrate next week if the issue was not addressed, citing the risks to patients' health.

At a press conference on Monday, the Coalition of CSO Networks in HIV, TB and Malaria noted they have heard numerous assurances like this in the past but all have proven futile.

The months-long impasse was due to a dispute over payment of taxes and duties on the donated medicines.

The Global Fund refused to pay the extra charges, citing its agreement with Ghana, while the government initially demanded $3.6 million for clearance.