PAC Blasts NHIA Over GH¢250m Ghana Card Funding, Demands Same Support for Maternal Healthcare

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has criticised the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for allocating GH¢250 million to the National Identification Authority (NIA) to procure Ghana Cards, arguing that similar financial commitment should be made to support maternal healthcare.

The proposal was initially announced in 2024, when plans were outlined to allocate GH¢245 million for the production of Ghana Cards for children aged six to 14. NHIA management has since confirmed to the committee that the funding commitment was fulfilled.

However, committee members questioned the decision to channel such a substantial amount into the identification card project, particularly as the Health Ministry seeks dedicated funding to address maternal anaemia and reduce maternal deaths.

PAC Chairperson Abena Osei Asare said the committee was concerned that the NHIA had made GH¢250 million available to the NIA to produce three million cards, despite the identification authority having its own revenue stream from card production.

She argued that the NHIA should demonstrate a similar level of commitment to maternal healthcare by allocating funds to programmes designed to improve the survival of pregnant women and mothers.

Abena Osei Asare indicated that the committee would push for dedicated funding for maternal healthcare during the upcoming budget period, stressing that financial support for the programme at the primary healthcare level could help reduce preventable deaths.

Ghana continues to face difficulties in reducing maternal mortality, with figures from the Ghana Health Service showing that institutional maternal deaths increased from 779 in 2016 to 955 in 2025.

The institutional maternal mortality ratio also rose from 109.22 in 2023 to 110 in 2024, highlighting persistent challenges in the delivery of maternal healthcare services.

Major contributing factors include excessive bleeding, pregnancy-related high blood pressure, delays in referrals and weaknesses in emergency medical care.

Shortages of blood, essential medicines and critical-care equipment further threaten the survival of women who develop complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

To address these challenges, the government launched the five-year Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER) on September 14, 2026.

The programme is intended to strengthen emergency referrals, improve transportation, address staffing needs and ensure the availability of essential medical supplies to prevent avoidable maternal and newborn deaths.

Appearing before the PAC, Deputy Health Minister Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah called for increased government investment and dedicated funding to strengthen maternal healthcare and reduce preventable deaths among pregnant women.

She cautioned that without sustainable domestic financing, Ghana could struggle to achieve its maternal health targets for 2030.

Dr Ayensu-Danquah has also advocated for the inclusion of essential maternal healthcare services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

These include intensive care, oxygen, blood supplies and specialist medical interventions needed to manage complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Source: https://www.myjoyonline.com/gh¢250m-for-nia-cards-a-misplaced-priority-redirect-into-maternal-healthcare-pac-to-nhia/

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