Minority Demands Answers Over Health Systems Shutdown

The Minority in Parliament has demanded accountability from the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) following the reported suspension of 10 servers by technology company Akamai over an outstanding payment of US$64,510.95.

The Minority says the development, which reportedly rendered critical electronic health information systems, including the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2), inaccessible, raises serious concerns about government’s financial planning and oversight of the country’s digital health infrastructure.

In a press statement issued on November 6, 2026, and signed by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, the Minority said the disruption, which began on October 29, 2026, was disclosed by the Ghana Health Service in a communication dated November 2, 2026.

It described the situation as troubling, questioning how institutions responsible for managing the country’s health information infrastructure could allow outstanding contractual obligations of approximately US$64,511 to result in the suspension of 10 servers.

The Minority argued that the disruption raises questions about the sustainability of government’s digital health strategy, particularly at a time when the Ministry of Health is pursuing reforms to strengthen the country’s health information management systems.

The statement recalled that in October 2025, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, announced the introduction of the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) to replace the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS).

Government had presented GHIMS as a state-owned platform intended to strengthen national control over health data and reduce dependence on private service providers.

However, the Minority said the latest development raised questions about the government’s ability to protect and sustain essential digital health infrastructure.

It acknowledged that GHIMS and DHIMS2 perform different functions but maintained that both form part of Ghana’s wider digital health ecosystem.

The Minority also drew attention to the Ministry of Health’s budget, which increased from approximately GH¢17.8 billion in 2025 to GH¢22.8 billion in 2026, representing a 28 per cent nominal increase.

It stressed that although the allocations covered the Ministry’s overall operations, government owed the public an explanation of how much had been committed specifically to GHIMS and related digital infrastructure, the amount actually spent and the progress made.

According to the Minority, digital health transformation should be measured by the reliability, accessibility and sustainability of the systems serving the population, rather than merely the introduction of new platforms.

The Minority expressed disappointment in the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, accusing them of allowing outstanding contractual obligations to escalate into a disruption of critical health information systems.

It also questioned Akamai’s decision to suspend the servers, given the potential public health implications of interrupting essential health information services.

While acknowledging the need for contractual obligations to be honoured, the Minority urged the Ministry to review its agreement with the technology company and consider termination where justified by the facts and contractual provisions.

The Minority Health Committee has consequently outlined five demands to government.

It wants the immediate restoration of the affected systems and a clear timeline for their full operational recovery.

It has also demanded a comprehensive account of GHIMS expenditure, including budgetary allocations, actual spending, implementation progress and its integration with existing health information systems.

Additionally, it wants an investigation into the Akamai suspension to establish institutional responsibility and determine appropriate corrective measures.

The Minority is further calling for an independent audit of Ghana’s digital health infrastructure, covering hosting arrangements, interoperability, data security and business continuity.

It has also urged government to establish sustainable financing arrangements and infrastructure safeguards to prevent similar disruptions.

The statement said the Minority would pursue the necessary parliamentary oversight to ensure accountability and prevent a recurrence.

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