Government underfunding healthcare, putting lives at risk — Minority

The Minority Caucus on Parliament's Health Committee has accused the government of underfunding Ghana's health sector, a trend the group says is undermining healthcare delivery.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmakers argued that inadequate funding has weakened disease prevention efforts, public health education and the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

They also expressed concern over delays in the payment of Nursing Training Allowances and the release of funds to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Speaking to the media on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, Abuakwa South MP Dr. Kingsley Agyemang urged the government to increase funding to the sector, insisting that the health of the population should be a national priority.

"The implication of not spending in the health sector means that we can't have healthcare. And when you don't have healthcare, you don't have a nation because people drive value. You can't underestimate the quality of your people," he said.

Dr. Agyemang argued that reduced government spending had affected health promotion campaigns and efforts to combat diseases, including HIV/AIDS, while cases of non-communicable diseases continued to rise.

He further claimed that apart from workers' compensation, several critical budget lines in the health sector had seen poor execution, raising doubts about government's ability to meet key financial commitments before the end of the year.

"The Finance Minister must find a way to release money for healthcare. We can't say anything beyond that. You must release funds for healthcare because you don't know where you too can be circumstanced," he stated.

The Abuakwa South legislator also questioned the impact of the government's decision to uncap the National Health Insurance Fund, arguing that the policy would have little effect if adequate funds were not released for healthcare delivery.