The founding president of the IMANI Center for Policy and Education, Mr. Franklin Cudjoe, has urged the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to return to the negotiation table to engage the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) to resolve their impasses amicably.
Mr. Cudjoe stated he has followed the issue keenly from the onset, stating that the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS), a digitalization company that has been in charge of Ghana’s health sector digitalization for the past years, first presented its project to the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government before 2016, which the then government did not entertain.
It can be recalled that at his latest press conference on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the minister for health alleged that the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) has refused to negotiate with the government on its consideration of the matters regarding the contract in place.
The minister stated that the Lightwave Health Information Management System has been paid more money than the work it has so far carried out in the contract.
He stated that the contract had a total sum of 100 million United States dollars to connect 950 health facilities onto a digital space for easy management and transfer of health records of patients.
The minister further stated that while less than 50% of the work was done, that’s connecting 450 facilities onto the digital platform, the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) has already been paid $77 million, representing 77% of the total amount.
The minister stated that the government of Ghana wanted to at least have some control over the digital platform, which request the LHIMS vehemently rejected, and has since left the negotiation table.
The minister also noted that the system has now been shut down, disrupting major activities in the health sector. He has since run several commentaries on the issue in the media, prompting further commentary from the general public.
Mr. Cudjoe has emphasized that for a country that is supposedly promoting digitalization, it is important to realize that it is important to keep the health records of citizens secure.
He further emphasized the need for government to engage its partners in ways that allow for the resolution of issues amicably.
“If there are issues between vendors and the government, they must be resolved amicably. These are very sensitive matters that concern people’s health. If the system were to be shut down as has occurred intermittently, healthcare workers would struggle to access critical data, which could have serious consequences.”
Mr. Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President of IMANI Center for Policy and Education
He stated his findings tell him that the Lightwave Health Information Management System is owed money that it needs to continue its activities as contained in the contract, which the government is questioning.
“Lightwave, the company managing the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS), says it is owed about $25 million (out of a $100 million contract sum) for work done under a contract that was consummated under the previous government.
“The Ministry of Health and Lightwave agree that about half of 900 health facilities have been networked with significant infrastructure rollout. And yet the contract is deemed to have expired in December 2024.”
Mr. Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President of IMANI Center for Policy and Education
Mr. Cudjoe noted that both the minister and the Lightwave agree that about half the facilities have been connected so far.
However, the minister is questioning why further payment should be made to the Lightwave when already, the percentage amount paid out in the contract is way more than the percentage of work done.
Mr. Cudjoe noted that if the government intends to start a whole process of setting up a new digital platform, then why not rather go back for discussions on the remaining amount owed to Lightwave, since it already has an established system?
“Accusations of blackmail and extreme actions of systems shutdown, even intermittently, should not have been entertained.” He stated
He therefore urged the health minister to rather go back to the negotiation table with the Lightwave to resolve issues amicably, instead of seeking to start a new digital infrastructure.
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