The Ministry of Health has inaugurated the Pandemic Fund National Steering Committee as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s resilience against future health emergencies.
The 13-member National Steering Committee has representatives from key sectors such as health, agriculture, finance, gender, environment, civil society, and international development partners.
The committee will oversee the implementation of Ghana’s Pandemic Fund Project in collaboration with key international partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The initiative is under the global Pandemic Fund, which aims to boost pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response in low-and middle-income countries.
Speaking at the inauguration in Accra, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, stressed the critical importance of readiness amid growing health threats noting that the COVID-19 pandemic challenged Ghana’s health systems but also exposed them, giving the country a unique opportunity to rebuild a smarter and stronger system.
He said the established pandemic fund which forms part of the reformed system was an “instrument for change” to enable Ghana to invest in “early monitoring systems, health infrastructure, workforce readiness and community engagement.”
The goal, he said, is to ensure “that our systems anticipate rather than chase outbreaks.”
Dr Akandoh charged the newly sworn-in committee to prioritise strengthening Ghana’s health infrastructure, particularly laboratories and surveillance systems, over spending heavily on workshops and meetings.
“This is a call to duty, and everybody must be part of the resetting agenda, we have funds, and a greater proportion goes into workshops and meetings. I hope this will not be business as usual. I will vehemently oppose it if we continue that trend,” he stated.
Strengthening systems
In a speech read on behalf of the WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr Fiona Braka, commended the Government of Ghana for its leadership and reaffirmed WHO’s commitment as an implementing partner.
He said the fund which comes at a critical time represents more than a financial investment.
“It is a strategic commitment to protect the health of every Ghanaian by strengthening systems before the next emergency. WHO is proud to support Ghana in this vital endeavour”, he said.
Dr Braka said “no preparedness effort is complete without strong surveillance systems,” which he described as “the eyes and ears of health systems.
“Vital pillar of coordination, leadership, and accountability,” ensuring investments align with national priorities and include voices from “government, academia, civil society, and frontline workers.”
Context
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in health systems around the world—laying bare the urgent need for stronger investments in pandemic preparedness and response.
For Ghana, it served as both a wake-up call and a powerful opportunity: a call to reimagine and rebuild a more resilient, inclusive, and responsive health system that can detect and address emerging health threats before they escalate into crises.
Ghana is only one of six countries in Africa to be awarded Pandemic Fund Grant under the second call for proposals. The country’s successful application—developed by a multidisciplinary technical team under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service—was supported by technical assistance from WHO. The total award of $16.3 million will be implemented over three years and represents a strategic investment in Ghana’s health future.