The Ministry of Health announced that the government has provided funding to clear the Global Fund commodities that have been stuck at the port, according to a recent press release.
The Ministry of Health reported that it has received a shipment of 283 containers of assorted commodities from the Global Fund via the Tema port, comprising: Mosquito Nets, Pharmaceuticals (including ARVs, HIV RDTs, and ACTs), TB Medication, and Medical Devices and Equipment
“The Ministry of Health is pleased to announce it has received funds for clearance of locked-up Global Fund commodities currently held at the port including TB medication. In accordance with the above, the Ministry of Health with the assistance of the Ministry of Finance secured auction chits for the clearance of 219 containers, leaving an outstanding 64 containers without chits”.
The Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health explained that it has been unable to clear the commodities from the port due to outstanding third-party charges totaling GHC 7,429,694.39, which need to be settled before the goods can be released.
The Ministry of Health further stated that it has sent a request letter to the Ministry of Finance, seeking assistance in obtaining auction chits for the remaining 64 containers, which include one container of TB medication, mosquito nets, and the outstanding third-party charges, to facilitate the clearance of these goods from the port.
The Ministry of Health announced that it has received a payment of GHC 7,429,694.39 from the Ministry of Finance, which will cover the demurrage costs for clearing all outstanding Global Fund containers at the Tema Port, paving the way for the release of these essential commodities.
“This amount is expected to complement the payment of third-party charges as outlined above”. – MOH
The Ministry of Health anticipates that, with the received funds, it will be able to clear all remaining containers at the Tema Port by the end of June 2024, bringing a swift resolution to the clearance process.
“We, therefore, urge the people of Ghana and our stakeholders to continue to exercise patience as we work to ensure the clearance and delivery of these essential commodities for the good of public health”.
The Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its dedication to prioritizing the health and well-being of all Ghanaians, ensuring access to exceptional healthcare services, programs, and policies that align with the highest standards of quality and excellence.
Delayed Medical Supplies to be Cleared Soon
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health guaranteed that the delayed medical supplies currently stuck at the ports will be cleared and released within a two-week period, assuaging concerns about the prolonged holdup in essential healthcare goods.
The Ministry’s assurance comes amid mounting pressure from health-focused Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), which had threatened to protest the prolonged delay in releasing vital Global Fund medications for treating diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV, and had demanded urgent action to address the issue.
The medical supplies have been stuck at the ports since May 2023, with the government attributing the delay to newly introduced exemption bill payment procedures and additional fees, which have caused a bottleneck in the clearance process.
Despite the challenges, the Minister overseeing the sector, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has given his assurance that the ministry will work to clear the supplies within the stipulated two-week timeframe, ensuring a swift resolution to the issue.
“We are committed to getting the containers out and for me personally, irrespective of the bureaucracies involved with government and all that I have given myself two weeks. In two weeks, I will not be encouraged if there are two more or one more containers left at the port”.
“In fact, and this one you can take it from me. If by two weeks we still have containers at the port, you will not see me, I will be sitting rather at the port. I will sit at the port with them until everything comes out”.
Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye
