Health Ministry inaugurates pandemic fund steering committee to strengthen emergency preparedness

The Ministry of Health has inaugurated the Pandemic Fund National Steering Committee, charging the newly constituted body to advance Ghana’s preparedness and response to public health emergencies with urgency, transparency, and accountability.

The 13-member National Steering Committee has representatives from key sectors such as health, agriculture, finance, gender, environment, civil society, and international development partners.

Speaking at the inauguration on Friday in Accra, the Minister of Health, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, stated the critical importance of readiness amid growing health threats.

He said that upon assuming office, he was immediately faced with a meningitis outbreak in the Upper West Region, as well as a resurgence of cholera in parts of Greater Accra and the Central Region. Adding that Ghana is also currently battling an outbreak of Mpox, with over 79 confirmed cases.

He explained that the Pandemic Fund, coordinated globally by the World Bank and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to strengthen national systems for preventing, detecting, and responding to public health threats.

He also shared that the fund will support improvements in health workforce readiness, laboratory infrastructure, and early warning surveillance systems.

The Minister urged the committee to serve as a driving force in translating policy into concrete action, guided by principles of transparency and accountability.

The Cluster Lead for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Dr. Sofonias Asrat, pledged his commitment to supporting Ghana’s health security efforts.

He highlighted the urgency of pandemic preparedness, commended Ghana’s recent Joint External Evaluation (JEE), and expressed optimism that the project would help improve future performance.

Dr. Asrat further encouraged committee members to ensure transparency and inclusivity in their oversight role, noting that their leadership would be crucial to Ghana’s ability to respond effectively to future public health threats.

The inauguration was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, WHO, FAO, UNICEF, World Bank, civil society, academia, among others.